DISTURBED BY OWNER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 42, 20 February 1943, Page 3

DISTURBED BY OWNER

YOUNG MEN WHO BROKE INTO STORE SEQUEL HEARD IN COURT How a Waverley storekeeper went to his shop early on the morning of February 12 and disturbed two men ho had entered the premises after for;ztig the baek door was told in the Magistrate’s Court, Wanganui, yesterday, when Ronald Arthur Lacy, labourer, aged 23, and Robert Basil Rod, labourer, aged 19, appeared before Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., and pleaded guilty to t4ree charges of breaking and entering and theft, one charge of attempted breaking and entering, and three charges of unlawful car conversion. They were committed to the Supreme Court, Wellington, for sentence.

The accused were jointly charged as follows: On December 28, at Wanganui, converting a motor-car, valued at £5O, the property of R. E. J. Vincent; on December 30, at Wanganui, converting a car valued at £137, the property of A. J. Reid; on February 11, at Wanganui, converting a car valued at £250, the property of J. Waters; On January 10, breaking and entering the Wanganui Technical College and committing theft; on January 20, breaking and entering the shop of John Leb, Ridgway Street, and committing theft; on February 12, at Waverley, breaking and entering the shop of Bromley, Ltd., and committing theft; on February 12, at Waverley, attempting to break and enter the shop of J. Collins, with intent to commit theft.

Rod was charged alone with breaking and entering the premises of S. J. Sullivan Ltd., Wilson Street, and committing theft.

Mr. C. F. Treadwell appeared for Rod, and Lacy was not repesented by counsel. Detective-Sergeant J. K. Robertson prosecuted. Giving evidence concerning the separate charge against Rod, Reynold Richard Sullivan said that when he examined the premises on February 1 he found that a window on the top floor had been disturbed. There was a fire escape on the side of the building leading to this window. When he returned to work on the morning of February 1 he found some of his tools missing, said Alexander George Barnes, apprentice cabinetmaker. He identified tools produced in Court as his property. The tools were valued at £2 0s 3d.

Similar evidence was given by Reginald E. Cook, cabinetmaker, who identified tools to the value of 8s (produced in Court) as his property. When interviewed on February 12, Rod made a statement admitting the offence and was quite frank about the matter, said Detective L. B. Vasta. Rod said he wanted the tools for his workshop and for this reason decided to break into the furniture factory. In consequence of something lie was told at 2 a.m. on February 12 he. returned to his shop and saw Rod, whom he knew, in the store with a torch in his hand, said Norman Bromley, storekeeper, Waverley. Witness unlocked the front door, switched on the lights and called on accused to stop as he had “spotted him.” Accused, however, made a hurried exit by the back door.

A subsequent examination showed that this door had been opened by force. Stock missing from shelves, valued at £ll 16s Bd, was found in three sugar bags, two of which were in a storeroom. An examination of the till showed that Is 6d was missing. Outside the back door witness found a chisel, a screwdriver and a pocketknife, articles which did not belong to the store.

Second-Lieutenant John Clive Hinton, woodwork instructor at the Wanganui Technical College, said that on December 15 he left some tools on a bench in the class room. On January 11 he returned to the school and found that a window had been broken after an attempt was made to hack away a pane of glass. Witness identified tools valued at £3 15s, produced, as school property. A large window at the rear of the premises was completely taken out, said John Lee, importer of motor parts, Ridgway Street. Articles found to be missing included a typewriter, an electric motor, a rotary date stamp and a leather kit containing small tools. The total value was about £33 3s Bd. Witness identified property produced in Court as his.

Constable G. A. Baskin (Waverley) said that when investigating other matters he found the car owned by Waters at the entrance to a Waverley garage.

With Constable S. F. Best he interviewed the accused at Wanganui on February 12, when they made statements admitting the offences. Rod, who was the first to be interviewed, said he was a married man with one child, five months old. At 8.30 p.m. on February 11 he was with another man when they decided to steal a car and go to Waverley for a ride. They arrived there shortly after midnight and subsequently went to the back ol Bromley’s store. Accused added that he had a jemmy, but did not use it. They forced the door and were putting some goods together when Bromley came in the front door and accused recognised his voice. Both men dashed out the back dooi and separated. Accused added that he walked to Waitotara and joined a train for Wanganui, where he arrived at 8.30 a.m.

Lacy, in his statement, said they removed the car from Maria Place. In the store at Waverley he helped to place some gooos in a sack and added that the omy reason why he entered the store was because he wanted some cigarettes. Referring to the Technical College incident, Lacy said he did not take any of the tools only went there to keep Rod company. Rod, in his statement, said he decided to break into the Technical College because he wanted some tools lor his workshop. He also stated that he removed equipment from Lee's for a similar reason. His earnings were about £5 a week. In answer to Mr. Treadwell, Detective Vasta said all the motor-cars and practically all the property stolen had been recovered. Rod was frank with the police. The Magistrate: I presume Lacy was equally frank? Detective Vasta: That is so. The accused pleaded guilty to all the charges and were committed to the Supreme Court, Wellington, for sentence.