AUDACIOUS THEFTS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 139, 17 June 1911, Page 7

AUDACIOUS THEFTS.

TROTTING HORSE AND MOTOR-

CAR

Two' audacious. thefts have taken, plado this week in Christchurch, and bbth of them are remarkable for the ambitious nature of. the enterprise. The first was the removal of the trotting horse Prince Warbeck from the stable of his owner, Mr J. C. Paget, between 6 and 7.30. p.m. on Monday. The matter was looked on,as theft. and the police made inquiries: Yesterday ■afternoon.- a. horse was reported to be at large in, Spreydon,' and Detective Kennedy went out and identified the animal as Prince-Warbec:k. He had been ridden end had cast a shoe,, but otherwise was in good condition. The horse was taken to tho police station, . ai»d afterwards ©tabled comfortably for the night. '>.■" A much more remarkable case was reported to .the. police yesterday moiviing. Dr. Browne, of Sydenbam, discovered on rising that his; ,motor-c«^ shed was open and the bar had been removed from it. Detectives were su mihoned ,at once, but it was not' until the evening thati the ear was traced. It was then found abandone# by the side of the road at Bankside, near Rakaiu, some fo*fcy miles from Christchurch. It had contained petrol sufficient tp caa-ryit 100 miles, W that; the thieves abandoned it some time

before the necessity' arose. ! The authors of the two • thefts are supposed to be identical with three Industrial School escapees who are nowj! at large in company,. and tho police are confident that they are responsible fpf both escapades. One of them is known to be able to drive a motor-car. -