MECHANIC’S THEFT ON TOUR

Taranaki Daily News, 6 January 1927, Page 9

MECHANIC’S THEFT ON TOUR

GOES OVER BANK AT PUTARURU. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Jan. 5. A mechanic, Harold Joseph Whittle, took a motor-car from Mercer Street on December 14 and set out on a tour to Auckland, his home town. At Tokomaru ■ext day he stole a rug worth £3, the property of Roland Judd, an overcoat, an attache case and contents, of a total value of £9 lie fid, the property of John Albert Wilkinson. At Halcombe he broke into the shop of Francis and Co. and stole goods worth about £4O. After leaving Putaruru the car went over a bank, but it was not until December 30, at Cambridge, that he fell into the clutches of the police. When Whittle was charged to-day, Chief Detective Ward said there was a lengthy list of previous convictions. Mr. Riddell, S.M., imposed a sentence of three months on each of the two charges of theft at Tokomaru, concurrent, and committed him for sentence for stealing the car. He remanded him to Fielding ;n connection with the breaking and entering at Halcombe.