TWO STOLEN CARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20307, 15 July 1929, Page 10

TWO STOLEN CARS.

IMPUDENT SUBSTITUTION.

EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES

A disabled motor-car left on the roadside near Runeiman by Mr. H. T. Morton, of Te Kuiti, on Saturday evening was later removed without authority, and a car in which Mr. Morton had been given a lift into Auckland was found left in its place. The substituted car, it was subsequently learned, had also been illegally taken earlier in the evening.

Two tyres of Mr. Morton's car were punctured simultaneously near Runeiman, and as lie had a party with him he signalled the first car that passed for a ride into the city. The party was picked up, and Mr.. Morton engaged the driver in conversation. As the man seemed to be very reticent as to how far lie had come, Mr. Morton was for a time suspicious, but came to (ho conclusion that his suspicions were unfounded.

Yesterday Mr. Morton returned to Runeiman to get his car. When he arrived at the spot where he had left it the night before ho was astounded to find that it had gone, but the car in which he had ridden to tho city was standing in its place. The matter was reported to tho police, and it was (lien found that tho abandoned car was ono which had been removed from a parkingstand in Hood Street, Hamilton, between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturday. It was the property of Mr. 11. S. Blackie, garage proprietor, of Hamilton. Tho reason that the change had been made was at once apparent. The first car, in which tho man had driven them to Auckland, had been severely damaged at some time after it had left Mr. Morten in the city, and the driver had then apparently remembered Mr. Morton's ear standing at tho roadside. Driving out to it, ho had repaired tho punctures and had taken it, as (ho car lie was driving had been damaged to such an extent that it was baiely capable of being driven. Last evening Mr. Morton's car had not been recovered.