SHOPLIFTERS FINED

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 148, 25 June 1938, Page 11

SHOPLIFTERS FINED

CAUGHT IN THE ACT

Within a quarter of an hour yesterday afternoon, two men were taught in different parts, of Wellington in the act of stealing articles from shops. Both pleaded guilty before Mr. A. M. Gouldihg, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court today, and were penalised by fines.

William - Steffert, aged . 68, was charged with the theft of three ties and a pipe valued at 3s 6d, the property of MacDuff's, : Ltd. Detective-Sergeant W. McLennan said that at 4.15 p.m. yesterday the accused was observed picking up a pipe from the counter and putting it in his pocket. He subsequently admitted taking the ties also, and produced them. The accused was a pensioner and was making his first appearance before the Court. A fine of £1 was imposed,

Walter. Leonard Clarke, a labourer, aged 43, pleaded guilty to the theft of shoes valued at 14s 6d, the property of J. W. Martin, Ltd., Courtenay Place, He was fined £3, in default seven, days' imprisonment. ' -Sub-Inspector J. A. Dempsey said that at 4,30 p.m. yesterday the accused was trying on a pair of shoes in the shop when the salesman saw another pair concealed under his coat. When the accused stood up, the concealed shoes fell to the floor, and were recognised as a pair that had hung at the door of the shop. The accused then left hurriedly, wearing one of the new shoes he had been trying on. When accosted by a constable he said a man in' the doorway of the shop had given him the shoes. He was much under the influence of liquor. Mr. R. Hardie Boys, who appeared for the accused, said that his client had kept out of trouble for nine years. He was a married man, and was employed on subsidised relief work.,