HOTEL THIEVES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10601, 28 May 1920, Page 5

HOTEL THIEVES

WHAT THE LADY GUEST DISCOVERED.

ACCUSED BEFORE THE COURT,

The police have received a number of reports concerning thefts from tho passages of hotels and private board-ing-houses. One of tho most impudent of the kind was reported to the police pn Wednesday evening. A guest (a. lady) at the Hotel Cecil wont to her room an hour before dinnor and surprised two men who were engaged in packing awav the contents of two portmanteaux. The lady gave the alarm by screaming, but one of the men succeeded in making good his escape before assistance arrived. The other was secured and handed over to tho care of the police. Tinman. when caught, presented an injured air, and explained that he was in tho vicinity when ho heard a scream and went to render assistance. Tho man’s story was not accepted, and b ■ was placed under lock and key until the circumstances of tho case are ascertained.

At the Police Court yesterday, Alfred Phillips was charged with lb< theft of two portmanteaux and contents valued at £l9, the property e r May Poarsc, and was remanded till June 4th. '

Chief-Detective Ward said that tlm defendant was discovered in a ladies’ bedroom at the Hotel Cecil going through luggage belonging to Mr Poarsc. micro was another man with Phillips, but be got away before be could bo detained.