FIVE YOUTHS INVOLVED IN CYCLE THEFTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18938, 7 December 1929, Page 9

FIVE YOUTHS INVOLVED IN CYCLE THEFTS.

RING-LEADER CHARGED ON FIFTEEN COUNTS.

Five youths, their ages ranging from fifteen to seventeen years, appeared before M. H. P. Lawry, S.M., and Mr W. M. West, J.P., at the Children’s Court this morning on a long series of charges of theft of bicycles and one motor-cycle. One boy had no fewer than fifteen charges against him, two had four, one had three, and the fifth one charge, of receiving a stolen bicycle, against him. Chief-Detective Carroll said that two of the boys were concerned in the theft of a motor-cycle from outside a city office. They were seen riding the bicycle in Sydenham, and traced that way. They had painted the machine a different colour. Inquiries the police had made revealed a succession of thefts on an almost wholesale scale. The boys charged had admitted all the charges. Mr Reeves appeared for the seven-teen-year-old boy, who had the fifteen charges against him, and who was described as the ring-leader of the gang. “He is living with an elderly lady who adopted him,” said Mr Russell. ‘‘ln some ways his nature is a strong one, but he is the sort of lad who will do anything on a dare. He has been found playing in his room with sticks and blocks just like a little child. That may indicate some sort of weakness in his mentality.” “Maybe that is a way of plotting out military or naval manoeuvres,” said the Magistrate. “The report I have says that he would like to go into the Navy. A conviction for this theft will ruin his chance of that.” Mr Bissett, Child Welfare Officer, said that if the boy was committed to the care of the State and got a good report from one of the managers of the training farms, he would have a chance of getting into the Navy. On his own, he had no chance with the thefts against him. The boy was committed to the care of the State. The case against one of the boys with four charges, who was described by his counsel, Mr Cuthbert, as a good boy in most things, had his case adjourned for two years, during which time he is to be supervised by Mr Bissett in the ordinary manner. In that way it might be able to avoid putting a conviction against his name. The boy who admitted receiving a bicycle, for which he paid £2, was admonished and discharged. “You lose the bicycle and the £2,” commented the Magistrate. The case against one of the other boys was adjourned for two years, and the fifth was committed to the care of the Child Welfare Department.