Reporters Chase Youths Through Streets

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28261, 26 April 1957, Page 10

Reporters Chase Youths Through Streets

Two youths, who were seen attempting to start a motor-cycle in Press lane yesterday afternoon, were caught after a hectic chase by reporters from “The Press.” A third youth, who had been trying to open the locked doors of cars in Montreal street, was caught by Sergeant T. Marson of the uniform branch at the Central Police Station. This youth, a 14-year-old, had a pocket full of car keys.

At 3.25 p.m. yesterday a number of reporters were in “The Press” office preparing their reports on various Anzac Day services. One of them looked into Press lane and saw a straw-hatted youth in jeans sitting astride his motor-cycle and trying to start it. Two other youths were standing beside the motor-cycle. There was a startled yell from the owner of the motor-cycle and a rush for the stairs leading to the lane as reporters discarded their copy for the excitement of the chase. The straw-hatted youth ran along- the lane into Gloucester street and turned right towards

Manchester street. The young reporter, a cross-country runner, was close at his heels and spurred by indignation at the interference with his motor-cycle, caught him in 200 yards. Other reporters gathered round captor and captive and escorted them back to the motor-cycle. The youth appealed to the oldest of the group to “give us a break.” One wheel of the motor-cycle had been chained but the lock was broken and the chain was lying on the ground. Further Chase In the meantime a more exciting chase was in progress. Two reporters set off in a car to catch one of the other youths who had run along Gloucester street and Manchester street before turning right into Worcester street. He crossed Worcester street and went into Hereford place. He turned right and along the lane behind the Government buildings and entered Cathedral square by the bus depot. The reporters were there almost as soon as the youth was, but he dashed across the south side of the Cathedral and through the crowd at the Citizens’ War Memorial, with a racing re-

porter, who had left the car, hard on his heels- The chase led across the square to the Chief Post Office, through Plaza lane into Hereford street. The reporter in the car picked up a constable at the corner of Worcester street near the Regent Theatre and drove to Oxford terrace, where they turned left. They saw the youth come from Hereford street and run towards the Bridge of Remembrance. The reporter in the car speeded up and pulled up beside the youth, whose pace was now much reduced. The constable reached from the car and grabbed the youth, who was taken back to “The Press’’ office. Another motor-cycle in Press lane was found to be a converted one. Apparently it had been discarded by youths who had ridden it there, for its clutch was out of action. Detectives arrived and took one youth to the police station. Almost simultaneously with their arrival, Sergeant T. Marson took in a 14-year-old boy who had been seen trying to open car doors in Montreal street. This youth had sufficient keys for a variety of makes of cars.