OPOTIKI BURGLARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21876, 11 August 1934, Page 16

OPOTIKI BURGLARY

GOODS TAKEN FROM SHOP

THREE YOUNG MEN INVOLVED RECOVERY OF PROPERTY [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] OPOTIKI, Friday A sequel to a raid on G. A. Dawson's mercery shop, in C'hurch Street, Opotiki, on the night of August 4, was a case heard in the Magistrate's Court to-day before justices, when George Rewit a, aged 22, James Apanui, aged 22, and John Belmont, aged 25, were charged with breaking and entering and theft of goods valued at £2O. G. A. Dawson said ho locked up his shop shortly after mid-day on Saturday, August 4, and revisited it in the evening vvhen everything was in order. However, on the Sunday morning ho was notified the shop had been broken into. He found the back window broken and wide open. Going inside he found that a number of articles of clothing were missing. Witness identified the goods produced in Court as his property.

To the Bench witness said he had no doubt that the goods were his and also that the shop had been securely locked up. Coustable Beasley, of Opotiki, said that ho visited Opape and there interviewed tho accused Rewita and Apanui. He obtained a statement from Apanui in which Apanui stated that he was at a dance oil tho night of August 4, was thero all tho evening and went home later with his people. He denied having had any talk with Rewita and Belmont. Witness said that later Apanui made another statement in which he Kiid lie had decided to tell the truth. He told how ho agreed with the other accused to help by keeping watch in Church Street. After being there a while the other accused waved to him to go into the main street, where he met Rewita and Belmont with a big bundle of clothing which they said they would share with him. Witness continued that Rewita also made two statements. In the second one ho said he agreed with the others to break into Dawson's shop. This statement agreed with Apanui's second statement. Sergeant Millar later interviewed Belmont, who came to the police station and was charged with the offence, but he said he Knew nothing about the goods and refused to make a statement.

Yesterday witness and the sergeant visited a shod at the corner of Church Street and Princess Street and among some hay discovered clothing and shoes, all new goods, and all identified by Dawson as his property. Witness said he knew Belmont had been using the shed for hay, which ho took out to Waiaua. This morning Rewita took witness out to Omarumutu and produced more clothing in a sack hidden among lupins. The clothing was identified by Dawson. Tho total value of the goods recovered was £2O. ' All the accused said they had no questions to ask. They pleaded guilty and were committed to the Auckland Supreme Court for sentence.