A CAREER OF CRIME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23686, 19 December 1938, Page 13

A CAREER OF CRIME

YOUTHFUL DELINQUENTS TRAIL OF HAVOC LEFT FORMIDABLE LIST OF CHARGES A lengthy series of offences ranging from burglary to wilful damage to property,'resulted in the appearance of two boys, both aged 13 years, before the Children's Court on Saturday morning. The police describe the case as one of the worst in their experience. The boys embarked, on their career of crime towards the end of last month, and in the course of their activities broke into shops and dwellings, .stole goods, converted bicycles to their own use, and wherever they went left behind them a trail of havoc. They first commenced operations late in November, when they broke into a house in Lundie street, and after forcing the back door ransacked drawers and created chaos throughout the house, scattering effects everywhere. They also emptied three bottles of ink on to the furnishings, the carpets and walls also being extensively damaged. The kitchen and scullery were treated in similar fashion, bins containing foodstuffs and condiments being emptied on to the floors. Then they visited another house in Lundie street and created the same thorough mess. Considerable damage was also done here. Their next victim was a resident of Scarba street, and he suffered, to the same degree. At one of the houses an attempt was also made to set fire to some bedding. The boys then broke into the shop of a secondhand dealer in King street, which was ransacked and damaged. During this period one of the boys stole a letter from a car. This letter ' constained postal notes and after these had been cashed they shared the proceeds and spent them. They also converted three bicycles to their own use.

Both boys were committed to the care of the Child Welfare Department.