WATERFRONT THEFTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17782, 16 May 1921, Page 3

WATERFRONT THEFTS.

■\: — ■-•» ■ "'■■'■-.? LONG SERIES OF OFFENCES.

FOUR BOYS BEFORE^COURT.

TWO -ORDERED TO BE BIRCHED., A long series of offences on the Ponsonby waterfront, principally thefts from launches, were admitted by four boys, between 13 and 16 years of age, who came before Ma-. J. W. Poynton, S.M. in the Juvenile Offenders Court on Saturday. Their offences, which covered a wide field, had extended over a period of several months. They had raided the lockers of the Ponsonby Cruising Club's shed, taking cash and keys. They had visited various launches about the waterfront and had stolen a miscellaneous assortment of articles, including electric appliances, gear, and small sums of money. They were also charged with having moved other launches and dinghies, som« of which were damaged, from their proper positions. In addition, they had stolen from clothes at the Shelly Beach Baths. A considerable quantity of the stolen goods had been recovered. The two younger boys wero each ordered ten strokes of the birch, one being also placed in the Probation Home for sis months. The other two were placed on probation for three years, an order being made for restitution of the value of the articles not recovered. Constable Devereaux, of the Ponsonby station, conducted the investigations which led to the capture of the boys, most of the work carried out in the constable's own time"