MOTOR THEFTS

Evening Star, Issue 19894, 16 June 1928, Page 5

MOTOR THEFTS

PARALLEL TO THE " CHEVROLET " GANG YOUTHS BEFORE POLICE COURT NUMBER OF CARS DAMAGED, For over six weeks the police have been busy endeavouring to track some youths who had been converting motor cars about the city to their own use, and, after patient waiting, their efforts worn rewarded by the apprehension this week of three young follows, whose names are:Georgo William Uron, aged eighteen years. David Bruco Beveridge, aged nineteen years. Francis Sinclair Ward, aged nineteen years. When the three youths appeared before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., in the City Police Court this morning, Ghicf-deteclivo Cameron said it was a case .similar to that of the “ Chevrolet Gang,” a number of young fellows wiio were convicted a few months ago on an extensive series of motor car conversions. The depreciations in tho present case seem to have extended over a period of over six week's, during which the motorists of tho city have had rather an anxious time. Cars frequently disappeared from parking places about the town, being found later in out-of-the-way places. In some cases considerable damage was clono to the cars. It is understood that tho confessions ot Urea Beveridge, and Ward clear up most of the motor car thefts which have taken place during tho last six weeks. Urcn and ’Beveridge were jointly charged with, on April 23, illegally con verting to their own uso an Oakland motor car, valued at £3OO, tho property of Robert Campbell. Ward and Beveridge were jointly charged with, on May 12, illegally converting to their own use a Buick motor car, valued at £2OO, the property ot J. Manson.

“ Those young fellows have been implicated in tho last six weeks in a scries of motor car thefts,” said Chicf-dc-tectivo Cameron. “Some of the cars were damaged. At resent Beveridge is concerned in about thirteen cases of missing cars, Bren in about five, and Ward in six. Beveridge and Ureu are also concerned in breaking and entering a week-end cottage at Waitati, and stealing some stores and firearms from _ there. _ There are also cases of committing mischief, and a scries of thefts from cars. There are other matters.! wish to have investigated, particularly as far ns "Ward and Bevcridgo aro concerned, and for Iliac reason 1 ask for a remand till Wednesday. It will probably then ire necessary to ask for a further remand in order to have tho whole of tho charges formulated.” His Worship intimated that llio three youths would ho remanded to appear on Juno 211.

Mr R, A. King applied for hail on behalf of Uren. Ho said ho understood that Urcn was desirous of helping the police to recover some of tho stolen goods. Urcn would show tho police where they were. Counsel also asked for suppression of Uren’s. name till the facts of tho case had been gone into. Chief-dctcctivo Cameron said that ITreii’s escapade had lasted for only a week. Uren was concerned in the early car thefts in tho case, but was in Beveridge’s company for only a week. As a matter of fact Urcn had shown a desire to avoid the < company of Beveridge, and bad told his mother that when Beveridge called for him she was to say lie was out. His Worship said that in those circumstances lie would grant Uren bail. Bail of £SO in his own recognisance would bo allowed, with one surety of a similar amount. “ I will not suppress the name,” concluded Air Bartholomew.