CAR THEFTS

Evening Star, Issue 25469, 27 April 1945, Page 4

CAR THEFTS

CLIMAX TO LOCAL EPIDEMIC SMART WORK BY POLICE It is hoped that an epidemic of car thieving was brought to an end last night, when a sensational series of events -which included a motor car chase over wintry roads, and a crosscountry hunt on foot resulted in a triumph for the police. During the evening three local cars were stolen, and credit for subsequent events is due in the first place to the alertness of the Outram constable, who discovered thieves stealing petrol from a local garage. On foot, he was unable to give chase ' but he immediately notified headquarters. All country stations were soon on the qui vive, and at a late hour a car stolen from Dunedin was seen at Middlemareh by Constable Hall, who immediately gave chase! A wild west car race ensued, and terminated only when the pursued car entered a blind road'and had to stop. The occupants immediately took to the open , country, and were soon lost in the dark. Police reinforcements were summoned, and in the vicinity of 2 a.m. a small party left Dunedin. A systematic search of farmhouses was made under conditions of snow and rain, and came to a successful conclusion at Ranfurly, which the fugitives had reached by jumping a goods train. During the train journey thev added to the night's depredations by "broaching supplies of eatables and goods carried by the train. Three young 'men were arrested as' they attempted to leave the train near Rarifurly.