SHOPLIFTING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16497, 1 August 1924, Page 9

SHOPLIFTING.

MENTALITY OF THIEVES,

CHRISTCHURCH,' last night. That two women had mildly drugged themselves with aspirins, and that there seemed to bei a new form of mind attitude by the women towards crime, were the novel observations embodied in counBel's statement .regarding shop-lifters before the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Lillian Ester Heyward, aged 68; and Margaret Thomson, aged 42. were sentenced to seven days’ hard labor by Mr? Widdowson, S.M. They were extromely well dressed and accepted the santenco with outward equanimity. Heyward was' charged with stealing several pieces of ribbon and artificial flowers to the value of 11s 4d and Thomson was charged with the theft of sixteen yards of ribbon to tliei value of Bs.

Senior-Sergeant Lewin said that an assistant saw the women commit, the theft. Nothing was known against them. / Mr. R. Twvnebam advanced the theory of a- change of mental attitude of the woman in extenuation of the crime. Heyward’s husband was in a good position and practically independent. ■ Thomson's husband was also in good eirciimslnuces. There was no reason whatever for the theft. The women were not related. Both had been in poor hualth and had been taking aspirins. The magistrate said that the thefts were deplorable. Shopkeepers must be protected. The attitude of mind was difficult to understand. When they see things they Want they cannot keep their hand's off them. Hci could not take into account the drug theory, which he did not think could have had any effect. _____ i