BICYCLE THEFTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 185, 26 November 1941, Page 5

BICYCLE THEFTS

MT. EDEN SENTENCE

GAOL AND FINES IMPOSED

Stating that for the past twelve months there had been 1 many bicycle thefts in Whakatane and district, causing great inconvenience and l financial loss to people who could l ill afford it, Se'rgeanlt M. Farrell asked that the offenders before Monday's Court be made an example of when addressing Mesfers G. A. Brabant and 1 C. G. Lucas, Js'P. He said the offences must cease. Taitua Reneti Mas charged on five counts of stealing bicycles., Sergeant Farrell explaining that the accused had abandoned some, dismantled others and had admitted other conversions with wliich he was not charged. Th'e offences were considered as very serious by the Bench which added that the thefts were hard to detect at any time and more so considering cycles had been dismantled and. disguised. The public liad to be protected and feel that their property was safe. The accused was sentenced to four months in the ML Eden gaol.

Shorter Sentence One month in the Wliakatane gaol was imposed upon Towsie Tewiki, who had stolen one cyclc, but "who had, said the Police, been frank and nssisted the investigations and recovery of the vehicle. Removal of Wheel TureL Kawa Kawa, who admitted having stolen a wheel from one cycle abandoned lay Reneti was fined £4. Theft From Hotel Charged with the theft of a "handle" valued at 4/6', the property of Alfred Hayter, Charlie Makamaka pleaded not guilty. Constable G. Thomassen related 'hat on Saturday afternoon he had observed the offender crossing the street from the hotel with apparently something under his coat. Thinking this would be a bottle of beer Constable Thomassen had followed Makamaka to his truck and there found the handle wliich smelt of beer, under the seat. There had been nothing else the man could have been carrying. Sergeant Farrell stated that the theft of glasses was a cofmmon practice which caused hotel keepers considerable expense. The man was obviously a sneak thief. Makamaka denied any knowledge of the glass, but the Bench preferred to believe the evidence and imposed a fine of £1.