GAOL IN FUTURE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19202, 19 June 1924, Page 7

GAOL IN FUTURE.

WARNING TO SHOPLIFTERS. (From Ode Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND. June .18. ; “This is the last; occasion on , whiph Jp. will extend probation for offences of this kind,’’ said Mr J. W, Poynton, S.M.. in the Police Court to Eliza Margaret Hilda Codings, aged 38, who appeared for sentence on seven charges of theft, the total' amount involved being £7 13s. Senior-sergeant Rawle said that a week ago the accused went into Milne and Choyce’s shop and took an umbrella. Whonshe was caught by on assistant she dropped a bag which she had also stolon. As a, result a search warrant was executed andresulted in live other charges being preferred against her. She had taken goods from John Courts and Harts. Such, cases, said the senior-sergeant, were difficult to detect, and the public always had to pay. for the shop keepers made up for their shoplifting losses by putting the equivalent on to the price of their goods. Another had feature was that in shopliftiiuc' case* 1 ; suspicion fell on the shop assistants. Mr M‘Nab, who appeared for the accused, said that she had assisted the police to recover the stolen articles. She was living with her husband and son, and was in poor health and circumstances. For some inexplicable reason she took the goods, probably through vanity. He asked that she should be given a chance and placed on probation. Mr Poynton; I will place her on probation for two years, but let this be a warning. In future cases of shoplifting imprisonment will bo imposed.