YOUNG MEN'S THEFTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21449, 24 March 1933, Page 12

YOUNG MEN'S THEFTS

FOUR MONTHS IN GAOL

ACTIVITIES IN TE AROHA

[from our own correspondent]

TE AROHA, Thursdny

In the To Aroha Police Court this morning two young men, Percy Frederick Boyco and Lionel William Boyce, appeared before Messrs. G. Hedge and D. McMahon, J.P's., on seven separate charges of theft from various shops in Te Aroha on March 10. The stolen articles included eight pairs of tennis shoes, boots, 15 pairs of socks, singlets, tenuis racquets and numerous other articles.

• Mr. T. A. Carroll appeared for the accused, who pleaded guiity. Detective A. J. Wiiite, who prosecuted, said the charges related to bare-faced theft and systematic robbery. The Boyce brothers had set out from Wellington with a car and a few articles for sale. They travelled from town to town selling their stock cheaply to farmers. They arrived in Te Aroha on March 10 and the evidence went to show that the best part of that day was spent in robbing business premises.

Accused left the car parked in a side street, said Mr. White, and repaired to it when they had made a good haul, there io carefully obliterate all price tickets and marks of identification. In the car was found among a mixed collection of new men's clothing, a large quantity of razor blades, watches, shaving cream, etc. Three sparo tyro rims were also found and a radiator crfy. In the Post Office Savings Bank a joint account showed that accused had a credit of £94 between them. Mr. Carroll contended that the accused's actions did not show any deep-rooted criminal tendency. They had made no attempt to leave the town when they had the car full. He made a strong plea for leniency on the grounds that already the accused had been locked up for 10 days.

Both accused were sentenced to four months' imprisonment with hard labour on the first charge, the others being dismissed. Restitution of the stolen goods was also ordered.