CAUGHT IN THE ACT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 30, 18 March 1942, Page 5

CAUGHT IN THE ACT

THEFT FROM SHOP TILL YOUNG MAORI SENTENCED Pleading drunkenness as the cause for his taction, Rau Pakeha a native of Te Teko, appeared before Messrs G. A. Brabant and C. H. Christensen, J's.P 1 ., in the Whakatane Courthouse yesterday morning, on a charge of theft. The -details, were particular])' Hagrant as accused openly admitted that he had entered the iish shop of Peter Coutts and helped himself to the sum of 28/- from the till. But for the action of a passer-by who noted the accused helping himself nothing might have been known of the offence. Sergeant Farrell said that on Monday evening at about 7.15, Mr J. Kinniard who happened to be passing, had Ills attention arrested by the suspicious behaviour of a Maori in the fish shop. Going closer, he saAV the native deliberately helping himself from the open till by reaching across the counter. He at once took steps to notify the proprietor who was in the rear of the shop and was luckily able to intercept the accused before he left. On being searched 28/- was discovered on Pakeha's person included in which was an unusual shilling which Mr Coutts readily recognised. As far as could be ascertained this was his first offence, but the theft was a particularly cold blooded one and offenders of this nature should be taught a sharp lesson. Pakeha said he could not understand his action and could only concludc that it was due to the beer he had drunk. He was convicted and sentenced to one month's imprisonment. An order for restitution was also made.