TRAIL OF CRIME

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 17 April 1944, Page 4

TRAIL OF CRIME

LEFT BY THREE BOYS Dunedin, April 15 The story of an extraordinary journey from the North Island to Dunedin by three 15-year-old boys who were wards of the State and left a trail of crime behind them, was told in the Children’s Court this morning. Two of the boys escaped from an institution in th e North Island, and rode to Wellington on bicycles belonging to the staff. They sold one of the bicycles and were then joined by a third boy, who was the twin brother of one of the others. They crossed on the ferry steamer to Nelson and went by bus to Picton. where they obtained permits to travel to Christchurch. They committed thefts on the steamer and at various points where they stayed in Christchurch. They took possession of a parked car and, after stealing petrol, set off for the south, replenishing the petrol supply with thefts at Ashburton and Oamaru. At Oamaru they stole bicycles to ride round the town in search of petrol, and eventually reached Dunedin and committed theft, and were arrested. The magistrate ordered them to be returned to the care of the Superintendent of Child Welfare.