GANG OF SIX THEFT CAMPAIGN

NZ Truth, Issue 1063, 8 April 1926, Page 8

GANG OF SIX THEFT CAMPAIGN

Youths Admit Guilt

(From "Truth's" Special Chrlstchurcb Rep.) Gangs of youthful criminals are • quite the fashion m Christchurch of late. / These embryonic crooks have been keeping the police busy, but Nemesis has overtaken them one by one, and their story has been told to the Courts. The latest gang of six youths made their appearance before the Magis-trate-last week. • Of the,, six,' five of the youths pleaded guilty to several charges ■ of breaking, entering and theft m and, around the i cltyi r . „......< '■ They, were:; Alfred Roland Stephens 09), Allan Edward : Bollington (17), jrhn B.urtbn; Wilmott (18), Charts Eciward Roscoe (18) and Ivan Walter Athftelcl (19). V The sixth youth, who was charged ir respect of one offence only, pleaded not guilty and was sent for trial. His name. was suppressed. The charges relate to offences commtted as far back as July last. The gang seemed to- have a . special weakness for wireless apparatus. . . ' It bulked large m their booty; but a motor-cycle,, binoculars, a . camera, sr>d other goods figured m the 'imposing list which the police had prepared. Warehouses were their happy hunting-ground. . For some considerable time the police had been kept busy inquiring into the thefts. Slowly they pieced clues and scraps cf information together, which were to prove the undoing of the young thieves, until they landed them m the net. ' Very, sorry for themselves they looked as they faced the Magis- . tra*e. . Evidence was given relating to the various thefts, which had been carried out with daring effrontery. The accused named all pleaded guilty, and were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.