TRUCK TYRE THEFTS

Evening Star, Issue 25895, 12 September 1946, Page 9

TRUCK TYRE THEFTS

ACCUSED COMMITTED TO SUPREME COURT

(P,A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 11. Jointly charged with breaking and entering the warehouse of Munt, Cottrell Ltd., and stealing 13 motor truck tyres of the total value of £376 9s, George Hamilton Purdoin. a truck driver, aged 24, and Thomas Gordon, a driver, aged 38, appeared before Mr W. E. Stilwell, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Purdom pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, and Gordon pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Both were granted bail in the sum of £250, with two sureties, each of £l5O. Detective D. S. Patterson said that about 2.5 a.m. oil. Sunday, August 25, he was in t a police patrol car which drove into George street near the back entrance of Munt, Cottrell Ltd. There were no street lights at the time He noticed a truck laden with tyres near the back entrance to the store. The police car was turned about so that the searchlight could be played on the truck. In the moment or two it took to turn the car and return to the truck, which' was unlighted, the truck had disappeared. After the patrol car had made a fruitless visit to Kelburn the police car drove north along Tinakori road, where within a few chains the headlights fell on the truck previously seen. After an unsuccessful attempt to stop the truck a chase took place until the truck was abandoned at Devon street. The driver, the only man in the truck, got out and ran away Purdom was later arrested and made a written statement in which he admitted his part in the offence, but refused to name the man who had been with him. Gordon was later interviewed, but refused to make any statement until he had seen his solicitor.