AUDACIOUS THEFTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 81, 30 October 1939, Page 5

AUDACIOUS THEFTS

TAURANGA AND TE PUKE

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL From Matamata comes the *tory of a series of audacious thefts committed at Tauranga and Te Puke, in answer to which Cecil Frederick Hill appeared before the jVlatamata court, pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court, Hamilton, lor sentence. The charges were as follows: Stealing at Welcome Bay a quantity of carpenters' tools of a total value of £12 12s Gd. Unlawfully and without colour cf right, but not so as to be guilty of theft within the meaning of ihe Crimes Act, convert to his own use a baby Austin motor cav valued at £125, the property of Allen Marcus Mad ill. of Matamata. Breaking and entering the shop of Mountfort and Co., Ltd., at Tauranga ami committing the crime of theft.

TRIAL

Breaking and entering the shop of Charles Rhodes, at Jellicoe Street, Te Puke, and committing theft.

Breaking and entering the shop of Self Help Ltd at the Strand, Tauranga, and committing theft.

Breaking and entering the shop of Wallace Supplies Ltd, at Matamata, and committing the crime of theft.

Sydney J. Woodcock, manager for Wallace Supplies at Matamata, gave evidence as to goods being stolen, and which he identified in court.

Ernest A. Sisson, manager of the Self Help Store at Tauranga, gave similar evidence in respect to the premises being broken into. He also identified missing goods in court.

Owen Mountfort gave evidence on similar lines in regard to the premises of Mountfort Ltd, at Tauranga.

Charles Rhodes, of Te Puke, gave evidence on similar lines relative to goods missing from his premises.?

Constable Moore,, of Matamata, stated lie arrested Hill at Kaimai on October 13 and recovered certain goods alleged to have been stolen from the Wallace Supplies Store at Matamata.

Acting-Detective Heclley, of Hamilton, gave evidence that he interviewed the accused in respect to the offences and produced statements voluntarily made by Hill admitting all the offences.

Constable 11. G. Hodge, of Tau-J ranga, stated that on October 14, in response to a telephone message from Coiistable Moore,, of Matamata, he proceeded, in company with Sergeant Edwards, of Tauranga, to accused's home at Lower Kaimai. Upon searching the house, they found and took possession of the articles produced, which answered the descriptions of goods which had been reported as being stolen from Wallace Supplies Ltd, of Matamata, Rhodes' tobacconist shop in Te Puke, and premises in Tauranga occupied by H. B. Mountfort and Co., Ltd., and the Self Help Co-op., Ltd. They also found the tools produced, which answered the descriptions of tools which had been reported as having been stolen from a house undergoing construction at Welcome Bay.

In connection with the charge in respect to the motor car—the vehicle;, which was taken from [Matamata by the convey goods to his home —it was found abandoned by the police in Cameron Road, Tauranga, on Friday, 13th inst., and was returned to the owner.