THEFTS FROM CARS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23156, 30 September 1938, Page 16

THEFTS FROM CARS

VALUABLE PROPERTY TAKEN ELDERLY MAN IMPRISONED Six charges of the theft from motor vehicles of property valued at £lOl Os (id were admitted by William Knox, fisherman, aged (!(i (Mr. Noble), in the Police Court yesterday, before Mr. C. JL Orr Walker. S.M. The articles included a leather case containing four hearing phones and spare parts, valued at £IOO, three overcoats, four sheets, a car cover, an electric water heater, a, torch and a pair of tin snips. Evidence called by the police showed that all the offences were committed on September 20 and 21 from cars and vans parked in ffohson Street and Federal Street. Accused, carrying a large bundle on his back, called at a merchant's yard, asking permission to sleep there overnight, lie was ret used, but the next day the car cover and it variety ot other articles which apparently comprised the bundle were found In the yard. Further stolen property was allegedly found in a room formerly occupied by accused in Freeman's May when a police search was made. Accused made a statement to the police admitting the offences, saying he bad been muddled with drink at the time.

Sub-Inspector Fox said accused had an extraordinary record, having twice been declared an habitual criminal. Whenever he took drink he always indulged in stealing. None of the property except the sheets, on which lie obtained a loan of ss, bad been disposed of, and it was all recovered undamaged.

Counsel said accused lost control of himself when he took liquor, although it was some time since he last found himself in trouble. "He will be safer and better in prison," said the magistrate, sentencing accused to three months' imprisonment on one charge and committing him to.the Supreme Court for sentence on the charge involving £IOO. On the other charges accused was convicted.