EXCITING CHASE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 16 January 1926, Page 6

EXCITING CHASE.

POLrOE CAR PURSUES SUSPECTS CONSTABLE’S LEAP. NEWCASTLE, Dec. 30. The Newcastle police are confident that as a result of four arrests this afternoon and evening, 20 recent robberies of motor cars and motor cycles will be cleared up. The persons arrested are youths, none of whom is over IS years of age. The leader of the gang, it is alleged, was employed in a motor garage, and had a set of duplicate keys, by means of which he was able to unlock the mechanism of cars standing in the streets, and make illegal use of them, often inllicting considerable damage. Tire arrest, of the gang was brought about in sensational circumstances. Miss Ellen Brown, of Aberdarc, this morning reported to the police that he. car, which Stic ...id left standing on tie promenade, had been stolen. Constables Pickering and Wilson setout in the police car to search along the Mairlaid Road, and when they were rounding a curve near Hexham, the stolen car, in winch two youths were seated, passed them coming from Wailsend along the Handgate Road, at about 40 miles an hour.

The police set out to cau- up with their quarry. For a rule the cars raced along the excellent road, recently completed by the Main Roads Board, and then a ' couple of lorries travelling ahead at a slower speed compelled the thieves to slacken tneir pace somewhat.

This was the opportunity for which the police were waiting, and as the police car pulled alongside the other, travelling at 35 miles an hour, Constable Pickering jumped on to the footboard of the stolen cor, and ordered the driver to pull up. This he did after wobbling all over the road. While the car was still travelling at a high speed, the lad sitting beside the driver jumped out. He rolled over and over on the road, but picked himself up, and succeeded in making his escape for the time being. The stolen car was brought back to Newcastle, and then the two constables returned to Hexham, and eventually located the other youth hiding under the Chicester pipe line. He had been considerably shaken by the bump from the car, and came out of his hiding x>laee to give himself up.

Later in the day two other arrests were made, and the four will be brought before the Court to-morrow. Eleven charges have been preferred against them.