TANKER DRIVER IS ACCUSED OF PETROL-THEFTS

Grey River Argus, 3 August 1949, Page 4

TANKER DRIVER IS ACCUSED OF PETROL-THEFTS

Faults in Delivery System in Question P.A. " AUCKLAND, August 2. An allegation that, because of faults in the system of bulk petrol deliveries, a motor driver had, on 42 occasions in nine months, stolen large quantities of petrol from the Atlantic Oil Company, was made by the prosecutor for the Crown, Mr Speight, in the Supreme Court to-day. He said the accused was being charged with only two thefts. The accused, John Crutchley, aged 24, pleaded not guilty to the theft of 445 gallons of petrol, and, alternatively, to obtaining a cheque for £35 by false pretences. Messrs Leary and Hillyer appeared for the defence. Mr Speight said the company used five tank trucks. Vehicles on leaving the bulk depot were dipped by a man on duty at the gate, but when the driver returned a dip was not taken if the driver said there was no petrol remaining. Mr Speight stated that a flaw in the system was that drivers filled the tanks each morning from bulk storage, on which there was no system of metering. The man who dipped the trucks went off duty at 4.40 p.m., and one of three nightwatchmen carpe on. He dinned the tankers if there were petrol left. There were plenty of petrol stations with empty underground tanks, and it was alleged that, on his deliveries, the accused mis-supplied petrol. It was assumed that, with petrol rationing, there was a black market and dishonest petrol sellers. The prosecution suggested that accused made entries on forms after he told the dipper’ that he had no “back haul”. Mr Speight said evidence would be given that, next day, the accused went back to Clevedon Motors, and said that he had made a mistake in his delivery of 285 gallons of petrol. He said he had delivered only 85 gallons, and, to square the matter, he gave the proprietor coupons for 200 gallons, and paid him money for that amount. H fi also altered his meter. The accused had denied having gone back to Clevedon Motors, but the Crown submitted that, having been dismissed from his employment, he was, at that time, desperately trying to cover up his tracks. Fingerprints of the accused were found on the inside of the glass meter cover of a pump that he was alleged to have altered. ' G. H. Diamond, distribution officer for the Atlantic Union Oil Coy., said losses normally occurred in the petrol business. Over the last two or three years losses had risen from point eighteen per cent, to point seventy-eight per cent. During the last year the company had lost about 60,000 gallons. That was not normal. Every avenue possible was investigated, without success, to track down the excess of loss. Detective-Sergeant M. J. Ross said he interviewed the accused at his home on March 28. Accused was told his sales did not balance with amounts that he had taken delivery for. He denied having stolen any petrol from the company, and said the only amount he had not accounted for was 85 gallons that had overflowed when he had been filling a pump at on© of the service stations. Witness said he made an examination of the Atlantic Union Company’s petrol pump at Clevedon Motors on April 24. It showed signs of having been interfered with. The case was adiourned.