THEFT OF RINGS

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 September 1933, Page 5

THEFT OF RINGS

GREYMOUTH SHOPS VICTIMISED AN EARLY ARREST

A man was successful in the theft of two diamond rings, one from each of two Greymouth jewellers, yesterday afternoon. He entered the shop of Mr. J. Tennent, in Mawhera Quay, at about 5

p.m. yesterday, and asked to be shown

some engagement rings. After a close scrutiny of those placed before him on a tray, he informed Mr. Tennent that he desired to see a ring with a ruby in it, and pointed to one which necessitated Mr. Tennent reaching over to secure it. The momentary distraction of Mr. Tennent from the tray in front was sufficient to allow the visitor time in which to lift a diamond ring from the tray, and “pocket” it. He then inspected the ruby ring/ and informed Mr. Tennent that he would return to the shop with his fiancee, for her to see the ring that he had selected. Soon after the departure, Mr. Tennent noticed that a ring was missing from the tray, and he communicated with the police, and sent an assistant from his shop in an endeavour to locate the suspect. Having met success with his theft at Tennent’s, the man employed similar methodsat Gilbert Bros., jewellers, of Tainui Street. Here the lady assistant placed a tray of rings before him, and he again succeeded in removing one without being noticed. He then went to the front door of the shop, presumably, for the purpose of inviting his “fiancee” to make the final selection, but it was only a move to make good his escape. The lady assistant immediately noticed that a ring was missing, and in company with Mr. J. Crooks, the manager, went in search.

The man was located at the bar of the Brian Born Hotel, but on being accused of the theft, he denied it. Meantime Mr. J. Tennent arrived, and also

identified him, and he was detained until arrested by Plain-clothes. Constable A. J. C. Hay, at 5.15 p.m. Constable Hay noticed him let drop one of the rings to the floor, and the second ring was recovered from behind a barrel of beer.

This morning, William Reynolds, 25, a seaman believed to come from Auckland, .appeared before Mr. W. Meldrum, S.M., at the Greymouth Magistrate’s Court, charged with the theft, on September 25, at Greymouth, of one diamond ring valued at £l5, the property of John Tennent, and one diamond ring, on the same date and place, valued at £27, the property, of Gilbert Bros. On the application of Detective-Ser-geant T. E. Holmes, accused was remanded till Monday next. It is understood that a further charge, in connection with a ring missing from'Tennent’s shop, in July last, will be made against the accused.