POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16372, 28 October 1916, Page 5

POLICE COURT NEWS.

♦ SUCCESSFUL "TRAP." As a result of a " trap" set to catch a inspected thief, Norman Joseph Mason was charged in the Police Court yesterday, oefore Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., with the theft of a tin of sardines and a box of matches, valued at Is 6d. A member of tlio firm of Bond and Belt stated that accused had been employed by the firm. As a number of things nad been missed a " trap" was set by marking certain articles which accused would have occasion to be near. Constable Lambert doposcd to arresting accused as he was leaving work with some of the marked articles in his bag. Accused said he found the articles on the top floor of the bnildinff, and put them in his bag with the intention of handing them over on the bottom floor. He forgot he had them, and unconsciously took them away in his bag. Accused was convicted, and in view if the fact that he was a married man with I two children, and this was his first offence he was admitted to probation for 12 months. "AX INSTINCTIVE TTTTF.F." A young woman, aged 21 years, >vas charged with stealinc from her employer a silk dress, a silk blouse, and other articles, valued at £2. Sub-Inspector McTlveney stated that the girl had secreted the articles in her box from time to time. In consequence of the arrest of her sister, who had also stolen from her employer, a letter came into !be possession of the police in which tho present defendant stated that she too had robbed her employer. Her boxes were searched, and the articles were found. She was a persistent thief, and all efforts to restrain her were of no avail. He suggested she should he placed in some home, and under the control of the probation officer. After bearing the remarks of the matron of a homo, who knew the eirl, His Worship said it was a case which was likely to give trouble in the future. Where a girl was an instinctive thief her only recret was settine found out. She would be admitted to probation for thrco years. In addition to the usual probation conditions she would also he required to remain in the Door of Hone pending suitable employment being obtained for her, and also when such employment is obtained she will remain in it and not seek other employment without the probation officer's consent.