PICKPOCKETING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23690, 23 December 1938, Page 10

PICKPOCKETING

CRIMINAL’S ACTION OFFENCES IN VARIOUS CENTRES “GRAB INSTEAD OF CRAB” (Peb United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Dec. 22, “This class of offence is merely a more refinted pickpocketing, enticing a man into a side street and apparently, when indulging in horseplay and under cover of the horseplay, going through his pockets,” said Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., dealing with Eric John Jones, aged 38, a labourer and hawker, for theft from the person of D. L. B. Ross of a tobacco tin containing two £ 1 notes, an art union ticket and a war discharge certificate of a total value of £2 Is. “It is a very serious matter and one I cannot pass over leniently.” He imposed a sentence of three months with hard labour.

Ross, a pensioner, aged 65, said he was asked if he was “ Sullivan.” This ended in an apology and an invitation to drink. They were joined by two others, and then the men began showing him wrestling holds. He found the tin gone and got away. He met a policeman and they managed to catch one of the men with the tin on him.

The magistrate: We will have to call this one the grab instead of the crab.

Ross said he had about 18s in his trousers pocket and that was cleaned out too.

WRESTLING HOLDS A COSTLY DEMONSTRATION FARM HAND ROBBED OF £7O (Per United Press Association) GISBORNE, Dec. 22. A report that he had been relieved of £7O in bank notes by a stranger who had offered to demonstrate wrestling holds was made to the police thL morning by a 60-year-old farm labourer who had come to town for the holidays. Before coming to Gisborne yesterday the man cashed a cheque for £7O and subsequently was drinking in an hotel during the afternoon. He was followed from the bar by a stranger who started to show him wrestling holds, his roll of notes being missed shortly afterwards. As the result of police inquiries an identification parade was held this morning, but the complainant was unable to identify any of the men as his wrestling instructor. GAOL CHAPLAIN A VICTIM ROBBED IN TRAMCAR (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Dec. 22. One of the victims of the pickpockets who have been operating at Auckland is the prison chaplain, the Rev. G. E. More ton. While riding on the rear platform of a tramcar up Symonds street during the evening. his wallet was filched from his inside coat pocket. It contained a cheque book, papers, and letters of thanks from prisoners, but no money. It was found later in a rubbish receptacle near the top of Symonds street. Mr Moreton was returning from shopping on behalf of prisoners about to be released. “ I am still one of the world’s ontimists," he said to-day. “ I believe there is much good in the fellows who fall by the wayside.” NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS RECEIVED STOREMAN LOSES LARGE SUM (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Dec. 22. It is understood that a number of reports of the alleged activities of pickpockets were received at the Detective Office, Wellington, to-day. A storeman working for Messrs Johnston and Co., Ltd., Wellington, said in an interview to-day that he had lost between £ 130 and £ 150, mostly in £ 5 notes. The money represented his personal savings over the past 12 months. He said he had been carrying the notes in a wallet in his hip pocket for some days, and had intended using it in carrying out some improvements at his home. He thought he had the money with him when he went home for lunch at 12.15 p.m. He travelled by tram and, when he returned to his work at 1 o’clock, he found that the money was missing from his pocket. A second man who was interviewed to-day stated that £3O in notes had been stolen from his pocket. A Government employee, he said he had travelled on a crowded tram and he had money with him in his pocket, but, when he alighted from the tram, he discovered it was gone