THEFT FROM CAR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 9, 11 September 1945, Page 5

THEFT FROM CAR

YOUNG MAORI'S OFFENCE ONE MONTH'S GOAL With five previous convictions for theft recorded against him f Tahac Hape a farm hand of Ruatoki ap-» pearcd again in the Whakatane Court yesterday charged with stealing a battery torch valued at 15s ? the property of Hector Charles Brown from a parked car. The offence was alleged to have taken place on August 18 at T'aneatua. Messrs' G. A. Brabant and G. H. Cliristensen J.P-s were on thie Bench, Accused pleaded guilty. Sergeant Farrell stated that on the date in question, Mr Brown at-« tended the pictures at leaving his torch in the car. When he returned to his ear the torch and a bag of lollies were missing. After making enquiries the torch was recovered by Constable. Thomassen. Accused at first denied the. theft stating that he found the 9 torch on the ground but later admitted the offence. Continuing Sergeant Farrell said that stealing from cars was becom-t ing very prevalent. Accused was the type who stole even when he was in gaol, and he urged that the Bench make an example of this case in an effort to afford the public more protection. Accused had nothing to say but requested to be let off with a fine. Mr Brabant stated that it was a hard type of crime to detect and as accused had a list of previous convictions he would be. forced to '9 make an example of him. A sentence of one month's imprisonment was imposed.