SLOT MACHINE RAIDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20891, 5 June 1931, Page 14

SLOT MACHINE RAIDS.

FOUR SUSPECTS ARRESTED. INVESTIGATIONS BY POLICE. SPECIAL PATROL DUTY. The extensive investigations made by the police in connection with the continued rifling of automatic coin-in-thcvslot machines throughout the city and suburbs have resulted in the arrest of four suspects. During the past month more than 20 slot machines were damaged, in several instances coins and postage stamps being stolen. These raids becaino so frequent that, it was found necessary to place practically all available detectives and plain clothes officers on special patrol duty. On Saturday night last Detectives Allsop and Stevenson, who were on duty in the Dominion Road district, saw an old, unoccupied motor-car, which corresponded to descriptions of a vehicle alleged to have been used by slot machine thieves. They took note of the registration number and further inquiries led to Detective-Sergeant Bickerdike arresting four youths on Wednesday afternoon. Three suspects, Frederick Joseph Nadin, aged 22, baker, Albert James Clark, aged 39, farm band, and Leonard James Montrose Stanaway, aged 17, carter, appeared before Mr. F. K. limit, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday, while another youth, who is 16, will be dealt with in the Juvenile Court to morrow.

All tlie accused arc charged with wilfully damaging lo the extent of £1 a postage, stamp vending machine, the property of the New Zealand Government, and with stealing £1 5s Bd, I lie properly of the Postmaster-General. In addition, it is alleged that Clark and Stanaway wilfully damaged a slot telephone machine to the extent of £l. "There are a 10l of investigations yet to lie made in connection with offences which wc allege the accused have committed," said Detective-Sergeant Kelly, in obtaining a week's remand. He added that it was at present impossible to assess the total damage done to the various machines. On the application of counsel, Mr. Noble, each accused was allowed bail of £25, on condition that daily reports were made to the police. FIRST-AID BOX BOBBED. MISSING EQUIPMENT. INJURED CHILD'S HARDSHIP. [I'EOJI Ol'tt OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] "WHANGAREI. Thursday. A mean case of pilfering is reported from Ruakaka. Last week a child was injured at <ho school and in order that it should receive the proper treatment a visit w-as paid to the St. John Ambulance service box, which is located on the Waipu Road at the turn-off to Ruakaka. The box was found to be empty, except for one baudage and some splints. Since an accident in January the glass window in the box has been broken, but to gain entry the thief had to turn the key in the lock. To obtain the required (irst-aid equipment for the suffering child it was necessary to travel to the box at Oakleigh, involving a total distance of 38 miles.