“DESPICABLE THEFT ”
MISSING MOTOR TOOLS PREVALENT FORM OF OFFENCE “ It is a most serious matter for a man to steal tools from a motor car —unfortunately, it is an offence which is very prevalent,” said the magistrate (Mr H. W. Bundle) in the Police Court this morning when George Lewis Brooks, who was represented by Mr W. H. Carson, pleaded guilty to the theft, at Abbotsford, of tools, valued a, 15s, the property of Adam George Blackwood. His Worship said that tools valued at 15s might be worth £SO to a man if his car broke down. Senior-sergeant Packer said that on March 11 last the accused was in the vicinity of a coal pit at Green Island, and while he was there a milkman named Blackwood came for coal, leaving the truck at the mouth of the mine while he went in search of the manager. Blackwood was absent about an hour, and when he drove back to Kaikorai he missed all the tools from under the seat. When the accused was interviewed by Constable Brownlie he produced the tools and admitted stealing them. Mr Carson said that the accused was pushing a bicycle and was in charge of some cattle at the time of the offence. He knew the tools were Blackwood’s, and as he had had some difficulty with his bicycle he borrowed them and repaired his bicycle. He then drove the cattle home, and it was only about an hour later that Blackwood appeared with the police. It seemed a foolish thing that he did. The Magistrate: It would be interesting to know why he needed a kit of tools to repair a bicycle. Mr Carson said that the cattle required attention at the time, and, as he was looking after them he took the kit with him. He was a married man, 25 years of age, and had three children. Constable Brownlie, in evidence, said that the tools taken were a full kit of motor car tools. Mr Carson asked for suppression of the name, but His Worship said that he would certainly not prohibit publication in such a case. It was a most despicable form of thieving. The accused was fined 40s and costs (10s).
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19370409.2.112
Bibliographic details
Evening Star, Issue 22618, 9 April 1937, Page 11
Word Count
371“DESPICABLE THEFT ” Evening Star, Issue 22618, 9 April 1937, Page 11
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