PICKPOCKETS BUSY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18295, 11 January 1923, Page 8

PICKPOCKETS BUSY.

! i THEFTS IN WELLINGTON. ——— SEVERAL CASES REPORTED. A new and alarming menace to the general public has made its appearance in Wellington. It is in the form of a series of thefts by pickpockets, and all indications point to a gang with a scientific 'method of' procedure, says a local paper. Holiday time is always bound to find large gatherings attracting the' attention of these gentry, and it is on such occasions that the police force redouble their vigilance and detectives refresh their memories from the rogues' gallery portraits of people with "fingers so fly," which line the shelves in their offices. Once seen those people who have more than a passing acquaintance with a Police Court - dock are kept under rigid surveillance. But on this occasion it would appear that some of those operating are not as yet intimately known to the police, or have managed to slip through the holiday net. During the past week they have made quite 3 substantial haul and, in all probability, have lifted much more than is known. On Thursday last a gentleman boarded th© Auckland' train, at Thorndou station with, a well-lined wallet. He was busy saying the usual farewell upon the platform when he felt himself being jostled by an individual whose appearance lie in no way fancies. In fact, the actions of two men upon*- the platform. one' a stoutly-built fellow and the other a swarthy man of medium size seemed to him to be . unusual. In the midst of a chorus* of good-byes, however, he thought no more of the, incident until on board the train, when, examining his money, he found that two £5 notes from about £18 in money which he was carrying were missing. He is positive that he had the money in his possession when he arrived at the station, and is convinced that he has been the victim of a smart pickpocket. The next incident of this natur* occurred in Courtney Place on Saturday evening. Here, it was'reported, there were two attempts at theft of the less j refined order of purse-snatching, one of which was successful. Neither of the cases has been reported to the police. . More important still, however, was art incident which took place- at the Athletic Park. . Here a trustworthy gatekeeper., who had in his possession a considerable sum of money, proved the victim. The visit of the American athletes attracted a considerable number of people, and he remembers noticing a man who was passing back and forth a great deal more often, than, in the gatekeepers opinion, was necessary. He spoke to the fellow in the matter, but not before he had been jostled roughly by somebody, arid only a few minutes later discovered that he had been relieved of £10 in the neatest fashion in the world.