LONG PURSUIT OF CAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21639, 3 November 1933, Page 8

LONG PURSUIT OF CAR

VEHICLE BELIEVED STOLEN CONSTABLE MAKES ARREST" [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] "Vv'AXGANUI, Thursday The recovery of a motor-ear alleged to have been stolen from Auckland on Tuesday was effected this afternoon in circumstances which reflect credit on Constable F. Johnsen, of Mangaweka, who received valuable assistance from Messrs. L. Smith. S. Dickinson. .J. McDonald and A. McDonald, of Mangaweka. There was a long chase befere the car was overtaken and an arrest was made. Information regarding the theft of a two-seater car was received in Mangaweka on Tuesday ?.nd about noon to-day Mrs. Johnsen, wife of the constable, observed a similar car passing through Mangaweka. Constable Johnsen at once communicated with the Hunterville police in order that the car might be prevented from passing through and h the meantime he secured the assistance of several Mangaweka residents, the party setting out in the constable's car in pursuit on the road toward Ohingaiti, The party drove through to Hunterville, a distance of a little under 20 miles, only to find that, the other car had not arrived. It we.s at once surmised that the driver had gone toward Kimbolton by a road which turns off near Ohingaiti. Constable Johnsen sent .the civilians back to follow this route, while he and Constable Cosgrove, of .Hunterville, set off in the lr.ttcr s car,. ' toward Kimbolton, travelling by way of the Sandon block route. At one point on this journey it was ascertained party had been only .two miles behind the wanted car. The however, had apparently turned off along a side road, for Con!stables Cosgrove and Johnsen met a traveller near the junction of Rangi,wahia and Kimbolton Roads, an>s were | informed that no sign of the car had been seen.. Constable Cosgrove drove on toward Rangiwahia-, while Constable i Johnsen proceeded in the traveller's car toward Kimbolton. About four miles from Kimbolton they saw a car at the side of the road with a man standing beside it. Constable Johnsen at once arrested the man and handcuffed him. There was » passenger in the car, but the police investigations revealed the fact that this man had accepted a "lift"' from laihape and had no connection with t he alleged theft of the car from Auckland. The chase and return to Mangaweka entailed covering nearly 100 miles. The arrested man will appear before justices in the morning.