RAILWAY THEFT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 3, 31 August 1943, Page 5

RAILWAY THEFT

YOUNG MAORI SENTENCED WARNING EROM BENCH "This type of offence is apparently growing in this district," said Mr G. Brabant, J.P., when sentencing a young Maori Nopi Rikiriki to two months' imprisonment in Mt. Eden. "We therefore give warning that if any caSes of a similar character come up before this court, they will be severely dealt with." The above was occasioned by the police complaint that Maoris in this district Avcre. forming a habit of removing goods and luggage belonging to passengers from trains and making off with them. There had been numerous complaints of this sort of thing recently. Rikiriki,, who was charged with the theft of a suitcase, a fur muff, silver spoon, pair of shoes, slippers, tweed coat, tobacco and a jewel case valued at. £6, was arrested at Woioliou where most of the articles were recovered. Sergeant Farrell said that the victim of the theft was a passenger from New Plymouth who mlsked her luggage when about to leave the train at Edgecumbe. She complained to the police with the result that the missing goods were traced to the accused who admitted the theft. On a further charge of theft concerning a cup and a roller towl the property of the N.Z. Railways,, Rikiriki was convicted and discharged.