CHARGES OF SHOPLIFTING

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 102, 27 October 1934, Page 10

CHARGES OF SHOPLIFTING

Investigating a bicycle theft, Detective P. Smeaton discovered that twenty boys had been engaged in a series of thefts from the shops of Woohvorths, Ltd., and J. K. McKenzie's, Ltd. The names of fifteen of the boys were handed over to the Child Welfare Department, and the older boys appeared in the Children's Court this morning on charges of theft. One admitted stealing goods from Woolworth'f, and a bicycle, two others said they took goods from Woolworth's, and the others admitted stealing from McKenzie's. Two of the parents told Mr. W. ]?. Stihve.ll, S.M., that the offences were unaccountable, for the boys had everything they wanted at home. They had been deceiving their parents. Detective-Sergeant T. Y. Hall, who prosecuted, agreed that the parents of all the boys were above reproach. In placing two of the boys under the supervision of the Child Welfare Department for two years and throe others tor twelve months, Mr. Stilwcll impressed upon them that they would not get another chance. They had let down their parcuts and their schools, and were fortunate in being found out so early, for had they been a little older they would have been sent to goal for six months. Shoplifting was an offence which was difficult to detect, and i'ov that reason the Courts had to punish it severely. The Magistrate made it a condition that the boys were not to associate with one another after school hours, and were to be 'accompanied by a responsible adult if they went out at night.