POLICE AND MOTOR CYCLE CLUB-MEN WAKE SMART ARRES!

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 November 1950, Page 4

POLICE AND MOTOR CYCLE CLUB-MEN WAKE SMART ARRES!

Learning about 7.45 p.m. yesterday that a car had been removed from St. Hill Street, Wanganui, the Wanganui police, with the assistance of members of the Wanganui Motor Cycle Club and the Transport Department, quickly had a cordon thrown around all roads leading out of Wanganui. Scarcely an hour and a-half later the missfng car had been intercepted just north of Waitotara and the occupants, three young Wanganui meh, were under arrest. About 7.45, a report was received at the Wanganui Police Station that three men had been seen trying to enter cars parked in St. Hill Street. Sent there, Constable A. A. Fraser learned a powerful English car, owned by Mr. S. A. Brewer, of Halswell Street, had just been driven away by the men. Mr. Brewer was attending a meeting of the Wanganui Motor Cycle Club in a nearby building and was quickly told of his loss.

Quickly organising a chase, Sergeant J. Clements and Constable Fraser gained the ready assistance of the club members, and soon parties of cars and motor-cycles were racing out on to the highways north and south of Wanganui. Transport Department officers in Wanganui and Marton were alerted, and a description of the missing car radioed to Marton. A 'phone call to Waverley also brought out a car with two members of the motor-cycle club to join in the hunt.

It was the Waverley pair who Intercepted the missing car. Coming toward Wanganui, they recognised the car when it passed them just north of Waitotara, so turned and gave chase. Although Mr Brewer's car probably could have outrun the pursuers, the occupants realised capture was inevitable and stopped. They were still waiting on the Side of the road when Sergeant Clements and Constable Fraser reached the scene in a car shortly afterwards. The three men were arrested and returned to Wanganui, where they will appear in Court this morning.