EPIDEMIC OF THEFTS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15542, 10 June 1921, Page 3

EPIDEMIC OF THEFTS.

T WO BOYS ARRESTED BY POLIGT FURTHER CASES REPORTED.

For some time past, the Gisborne police have been notified that several business premises in the immediate precincts of tiie town had been burglariously entered and in some cases thefts committed. On investigating the circumstances of each ease reported, the police also came to Die conclusion that the work was that of boys or youths, and so clues in that direction were sought for. As a result of investigation made, Detective J. McLeod effected the arrest of two small boys in Berry street early this morning. They were later brought before Mr J. S. Barton in the Juvenile* Court to-day, and each charged with committing the tlieft of two jars of lollies from the shop of Chunk Pack, a. Chinese fruiterer, of Gladstone road, on June 3rd, and also with the theft of a purse containing £4 in money, from Die dwelling of Joseph Cooper, of Alangapapa, yesterday. Both lads admitted having stolon the iars of lollies and the purse, hut stated tfiat there was not £4 in the purse. Detective McLeod, in asking for a remand until Monday next, in order to allow inquiries to he made in respect to an epidemic of thefts, stated that possibly the amount of the second charge of theft might he reduced. . Really the bovs had broken and entered the house.

His Worship remanded both hoys for sentence on Monday in respect to Die first charge, and on the latter they were remanded. Both hoys were allowed to return home with their father, who was Present and undertook to see that thr boys would behave themselves in the interim.

FUR THEE T HEFTS COMM ITTKI). Two additional thefts were renorted to the police this morning about 8 o'clock.

During last night Die office of the Bell Coal Carrying Company was burglariously entered, and a theft committed. The thief or thieves got into Die limber yard and managed to open a. door leading from the yard, with a key, for the hr!; was undamaged. On getting inside a Tucker till evidently received more than passing attention. With the aid of a brace and hit a hole was bored and the fill opened. The only contents consisted 10s worth of stamps and these were taken. A bag of chocolates and some apples left on the desk were also stolen. Not being able to get further booty the whole office was ransacked before departure.

The other place visited last night was Cave Bros., timber merchants. Gladstone road, and in this instances tlie circumstances are of a more serious nature. The office was entered by way of a door at the rear of llie building in the timber yard. The door with a wooden bottom and a glass top, with a hoarded back, was smashed in, thus making it possible for the burglars to Insert their band and turn the Yale lock and open tbe door. The office was very closely explored, and the haul consisted of £2 10s in stamps, three boxes of lead pencils, boxes "of envelopes, and three boxes of cigars. This morning stamps to the value of 32s fid were found outside the office in the grass, evidently dropped during the flichf of the culprit or culprits. The total value of the stolen property is a little over £5.

The police are promulgating strict in quiries in each case.