THE RECENT BURGLARIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12726, 22 August 1919, Page 5

THE RECENT BURGLARIES.

SEVEN BOYS ARRESTED YESTERDAY, Tlie epidemic of small burglaries in Christchurch has been occupying the attention of members of the police force for some weeks past, and yesterday afternoon Constable Parker arrested seven boys, whose ages range from thirteen and a half to fifteen years, who will ho charged at the Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning with tho offences. The burglaries have been committed, over a wide area, and the peculiar and unprofessional methods adopted Jed the police to believe that the offenders were youths Constable Parker investigated the cases thoroughly, and as a result of his investigations ho traced a gang of seven boys, who were believed to be the culprits. T ester day afternoon he commenced to arrest the boys, and they were taken to the police station in small batches. Eighteen charges will be brought against them at the Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. The police station had a busy appearance last night, when tho parents of most of tlie boys attended to have them bailed out. Senior-Sergeant Cummings interviewed the parents before allowing bail- Some of the parents brought along sundry articles which had been in the possession of the hoys and were believed to have been stolen from various premises in tho city and suburbs. Six of tho boys were let out on bail by the senior-sergeant. The charges against the hoys comprise a big list. item- boys will be charged with breaking and entering the premises of D. Craig and Co., booksellers. and stealing fountain pens, crackers and stationery. Two others will be charged with breaking and entering the premises of Cotton-and Go. on two occasions and stealing therefrom a lady’s watch, lady’s watch-chain and locket, photographic films, keys and a padlock. The seventh boy, and one of the boys charged with the first offence will bo charged with breaking and entering the premises of D- Craig and Co- and stealing £4 Ss in money and a wallet.

Other charges which will bo preferred against the boys individually and collectively will be; —’Breaking and entering the Liberty Theatre on two occasions and stealing money, tickets and chocolates; breaking ami entering the i'hoatro Royal; breaking and entering bbo Cashmere Hills Restaurant and stealing forty packets of cigarettes and twelve bottles of lemonade; attempting to break into the Masonic Hotel. breaking and entering the “Star” Office; breaking and entering the “Press” Office and stealing a number of copies of the “Weekly Press,” which were subsequently sold on the streets; breaking and entering the Queen’s and Everybody’s picture theatres; breaking and entering the grandstand bar at the Raccarbon racecourse and stealing 10s in money and a quantity of drinks” breaking end entering the City Fruit Mart and stealing a quantity of sundries; attempted theft from WardellW Ltd., on two occasions; breaking and entering the AVharenui School, Riccarton, and stealing a football, money, and doing damage to the school; breaking and entering Barrow Bros.’ hdteher’s shop on five occasions in three weeks and stealing a sum of money and with mutilating a cheque for £4 Is Sd drawn on the National Bank of New Zealand; and breaking and entering Brabner and Co.’s coach factory. The other charges which are pending are at present being investigated.