CAR THIEF WANTED

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 70, 20 September 1933, Page 10

CAR THIEF WANTED

INJURED CONSTABLE

SERIOUS ALLEGATION ,

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day.

The Auckland police force today ar» strenuously endeavouring to locate a motor thief who early this morning wag responsible for serious injuries to Constable Ernest Edward Stewart.

About 9 o'clock last night the polico were notified of the theft of a new sedan car, and about midnight in Grey, Lynn Constable Stewart saw it. Hailing a taxi he gave chase, drew up alongside, and leapt on to the running board. The driver immediately accelerated, while the constable, gripping the rear door handle, tried to open the door. The handle broke off, but he maintained his rooting, and with the car travelling at high speed edged along and .seized the front door handle. The driver began, frantically to punch at the constable, who endeavoured to retaliate. Then a stationary car was seen ahead on the side of the road, and, it is alleged, the driver of the stolen car deliberately, in a desperate effort to dislodge the constable, swerved the car over the road to the stationary one.

Realising that he might be crushed the constable tried to flatten himself against the side. The car crashed along the side of the other vehicle, tearing both mudguards from it and hurling th« constable headlong along the road.

The owner of the parked car, who was standing in the doorway of the house, hurried out to see the stolen car disappearing at high speed and the constable lying on the road.

The constable was taken to the hospital with one leg shattered, his right shoulder and hand also injured, and his face lacerated. An operation was performed almost immediately. 'No effort is being spared by the police to trace the driver of the stolen car. «