A SMART CAPTURE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11415, 11 January 1923, Page 4

A SMART CAPTURE

AN UNSUSPECTING PRISONER.

DRIVES LOOT TO THE POLICE * STATION.

An ingenious ruse adopted by a detective in arresting a seaman, whom he subsequently charged with the theft of a number of rolls of doth, was related in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. David Mac Kay, aged 24, a native of Scotland, for whom Mr A. B. Sievwright appeared, answered to the charge of theft of five and a half rolls of cloth, principally serges, from the e.s. Suffolk, where he was employed aa a seamazu He entered a plea of guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. The total claim for the doth was £lOl 14a 3d. In consequence of certain information bo had received, the prisoner was interviewed on his arrival in Wellington from Auckland in the Suffolk by Acting-Detective Thomas, to whom he posed aa a tailor. The detective informed the seaman that he was prepared to purchase certain doth he understood was for sale, and in the possession of Mac Kay. Accused said he had six large rolls that he wanted to get rid of at £ls per roll. The pseudotailor made an offer of £BO, which was accepted by Mac Kay. A cheque was written for that amount, and it was arranged to pay when the goods were taken off the ship. It was proposed to hide the goods in the vicinity of the Lambton railway station. Several rolls of serge were viewed on the ship, and the seaman was informed that they were entirely satisfactory. It was also arranged that the purchaser should obtain a taxi-car to assist in the removal of the doth, and this was done. Shortly afterwards Mac Kay came ashore with half a roll of serge concealed around his body, and later returned for more. The detective asked Mac Kay to help him take the cloth home, and the prisoner agreed to do so. Together with a number of rolls of doth, the detective, with his unsuspecting prisoner, entered the waiting taxi, and drove off. They had not gone far when they were stopped by two detectives, and a visit to the police station naturally followed. In reply to Mr Sievwright. Detective Tricklebank stated that this was the second visit of the prisoner to New Zealand. He was not aware of his record before Mac Kay came to this country. As far as ho was aware this was hi 9 first offence in the Dominion.