THIEVES AT WORK

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10544, 22 March 1920, Page 4

THIEVES AT WORK

RAGE TRAIN INCIDENTS POCKET-PICKING AND IMPUDENT THEFTS. On the way to and from the Masterton races on Saturday the remark was occasionally heard that there were a good many “crooks” travelling, and some of the happenings by the way rather bear this out. There was a big rush for seats as the return train drew into Opaki siding, and as a gentleman, well known in Wellington, was endeavouring to hold up his end in the scramble, he had his pockets picked. The sum oi £lB was extracted. He. was aware at the time that someone had a hand in his pocket, but was ox hemmed in that he was helpless. Probably, the hemming in was the work of accomplices. The gentleman who was robbed is a member of tho Wellington Harbour Board and of other local bodies.

On the journey homeward the cry was raised by -a man that he had been robbed of £SO. It seems that a game of ohrds was in progress, and while the train was at a station one of the players remarked that he would be back in a minute, and got up and walked out. He is said to have had £SO belonging to one of the other players in his possession. As ho did not return, by th© time the train began to move on again some of the others jumped from the moving drain to go in search of him.