CITY ROBBERY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22518, 8 September 1936, Page 14

CITY ROBBERY

FIRE ESCAPE IJSED CIVILIANS WATCH 1 THIEF i |0 WOMAN'CALLS THE POLICE ACCUSED ADMITS CHARGE After watching a man climb the fire tescape of a city warehouse on a recent Saturday afternoon a young man and woman reported the matter to the police, with the result that the man was arrested and appeared in the Police Court yesterday. He was Robert John Dias, aged 34, window cleaner, and he was charged with breaking and entering on August 29 the warehouse of Ross and Glendining, Limited, and stealing goods worth £l7. Mr. Schramm appeared for accused. Evidence was given by Arthur Lindon Hedges and Dorothy Ellon Mitchell that they were standing in Elliott Street at about 5.20 p.m. on August 29. They saw accused and another man leave the door of a hotel and cross the street to the premises of Ross and Glendining, Limited. Accused climbed to the first floor and the other man, after waiting, returned to the hotel. Articles Under Shirt

Witnesses waited about 20 minutes or half an hour before accused reappeared at the window with his shirt bulging. He climbed down and went to the entrance of the hotel, but returned and picked up a suitcase which was lying on the roadway at the back of Ross and Glendining's. While Mr. Hedges watched accused, Mitchell went for the police, returning with Sergeant Holt and Constable McCormick. \ Sergeant Holt said he accosted accused," who said: "it's all right, sergeant, I work there." Witness pulled open accused's shirt and found a pair of shoes, silk stockings and other goods. The suitcase was found behind the street door of the hotel. Stock In Confusion Evidence was given by Constable McCormick that on the way to the watchhouse accused made an attempt to escape and witness was compelled to handcuff him. Thomas Herbert Glendining, factory manager, described the confusion in which the stock was found in various departments. The value of the goods produced in Court was £l7, and goods worth £l6 17s 6d were still missing. These included 12 pairs of shoes and four boxes of underwear. Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. The magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt, refused bail.