THEFTS FROM TILL

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1926, Page 7

THEFTS FROM TILL

£2OOO IN FIVE YEARS. CASHIER FROM NEW ZEALAND. Sydney, Dec. 3. A woman arrested by detectives this week, believed to have come to Australia from New Zealand five years ago, is claimed to have defrauded one of Sydney’s largest tearoom proprietaries of more than £2OOO in that time. Before the actual arrest was made two detectives watched the woman, who was a cashier, through peep-holes for eight days. They were in the cramped quarters of their ambush for eighteen hours each day. Extraordinary preparations had to be made by the police to avert any possibility of themselves being detected. In the first place the suspicions of the general manager of the firm were aroused because he did not think that the volume of business transacted at the tearoom in question was fully reflected by the takings. Preliminary inquiries by the police centred- suspicion on the cashier at the place. She was in virtual control of the position as she handled the cash register, kept the books of the shop, and parcelled up all the tickets, her O.K. being regarded as sufficient. They were puzzled, after a short inquiry, to find that her cash register did not show any deficiency, and agreed with the butts of the tickets. Nevertheless they were certain that she knew something of where the cash was going, and it became necessary to make a continuous watch. Prior to their vigil, they made outside inquiries, and found, that, though the cashier was in receipt of only £2 3s a week, and was thought to have had no money when she joined the staff, the woman had accumulated more than £2OOO in separate banking accounts in various city banks. She lived in a flat for which she paid £2 a week rent. It was furnished in excellent taste, and there were evidences that money had not been spared in any way on the suites. She entertdind on a somewhat lavish scale. In addition she was a frequenter of Sydney cabarets, and recently purchased an expensive motor-car. To set thei rwatclf on the woman while she was at work the detectives had to have a special seat rigged in a cupboard, which was four feet away from the cash desk. Slanting spy.holes were cut in the side of the wall, to command a view of her movements, and in this the police were secreted for eight days, entering the box at 6 a.m. each day, and being able to leave at 8 p.m. each night. The woman they were watching did not come on duty until 10.30 a.m. Before that time, another girl took the cash, but was not allowed to use the cash register. From the money left for her to handle, police claim that the girl they were watching was in the habit of taking amounts of from £3 to £lO when she wanted the cash. To allay suspicions, she would ring up the amount on the cash register. But at the same time she would manipulate the tape so that the amount would not show on it. To obviate a discrepancy between the cash and the amount represented on the tickets and butts, she destroyed tickets to the amount she' had taken. When searched by a policewoman after she had been arrested, she had £6O in her possession, in addition to some cash and tickets she had just taken before detectives Came from their hiding place and took her into custody. She whs charged at court next day. but claimed the privileges of the First Offenders’ Act. and her case was heard behind closed doors. She was remanded.