WAREHOUSE THEFTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21492, 16 May 1933, Page 12

WAREHOUSE THEFTS

TWO YOUTHS CHARGED ONE SENT TO BORSTAL CONVERSION OF MOTOR-CARS Two youths, Frank Liney Robinson, aged 18, and Philip Farrelly, aged 19, were jointly charged in tho Police Court yesterday with unlawfully converting to their own use two motorcars, each valued at £250, the property of Ross and Glendining, Limited. Robinson was further charged with stealing a brief bag, two rugs, a hand bag, five tiam tickets and sundry articles of clothing, of a total value of £3l 19s, the property of Ross and Glendining, Limited, and Farrelly was separately charged with stealing an overcoat, two ties, two shirts and a pair of shoes, of a total value of £4 7s Gel,, the property of Ross and Glendining, Limited. Roth pleaded guilty.

Detective Murch said that on May 6 he interviewed Robinson, who made o voluntary written, statement admitting tho offences. In this statement, read in Court by witness, Robinson said be had been employed by Ross and Glendining, Limited, as an assistant packer, and had stolen all the articles from the firm's warehouse, the thefts extending over seyeral months. Some while ago lie found two keys to the back door of tho warehouse lying on the floor of the packing room, and these keys had enabled him to enter the building whenever ho chose. Many of the articles stolen ho had taken away in motor-cars belonging to the firm.

Some of the articles, Robinson said, he had given to a girl with whom ho was acquainted. They included scent, powder puffs and other small items which tho girl was led to believe were traveller's old samples. The tram tickets ho had taken from a drawer in an office.

Detective Murch also produced a written statement made by Farrelly, who said he had been employed by a city firm as a packer and he was a friend of Robinson, with whom he had shared stolen property.

As tho result of information accused had given to the police, said witness, all tho Btolen property had been recovered. Those articles in tho possession of Farrelly were not damaged, but others showed signs of having been worn. Ross and Glendining, Limited, had intimated that it did not require restitution. Both accused had been truthful and frank to the police. In asking for leniency, Mr. Elliott said neither youth had been in trouble before. It was a case of weakness in temptation rather than deliberate criminal intent.

The magistrate, Mr. Wyvern Wilson, said Farrelly was apparently a decent boy who had been led into trouble. He would be admitted to probation for 12 months. The case of tho other accused was different, however. Robinson had betrayed the trust of his employers and could not bo treated so leniently. Ho would bo ordered to ho detained' in a Borstal institution for a period not exceeding two years.