ALLEGED CAR CONVERSION

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 19 October 1933, Page 4

ALLEGED CAR CONVERSION

DESCRIPTION BY WIRELESS SMART ARREST AT HAWERA The important part played by wireless in the recovery of stolen motor cars was emphasised again in Hawera last evening when an arrest was made by Sergeant J. Henry. During the evening news session from 2YA Sergeant Henry heard the broadcast description of a. car alleged to have been stolen in Wellington that afternoon. He took a note of the number of the car and about 10 o'clock went for a ; stroll; along High Street, where be was surprised to see the missing car parked close to the footpath. A man sitting at the wheel was approached and questioned and subsequently escorted to the police -station, where a telephone call was made to Wellington. The alleged theft had not been, reported officially to the Wellington police, but an inquiry at the office of Dominion Rental Oars Ltd. confirmed the fact that one of the company's oars had not been returned by the hirer and that a description of the vehicles had been broadcast. A charge was laid and the Hawera. police advised to make an arrest. The most outstanding feature of the affair was the fact that, with the aid of wireless, the car was recovered 200 miles from the broadcast station in less than three hours- after the description had been given. A sequel to the arrest was the appearance in the Hawera. Magistrate’s Courthouse before Mr E. Dixon, J.P., this morning of Charles Matthew Mc-Kend-rick, a resident of 22 Ooutts Street, Wellington, described as a baker by trade, who was charged with “unlawfully and without colour of right, but not .so as to be guilty of theft,” converting to his own use a motor car valued at £l5O, the property of Dominion Rental Cars Ltd.

Sergeant Henry explained the circumstances of accused’s arrest and he asked that McKendrick be remanded to appear at Wellington on Saturday. In answer to Mr Dixon, the sergeant stated that the owners of the car had arrived to take it back to Wellington. The application was granted.