Stole Explosives For Burglaries

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30961, 18 January 1966, Page 3

Stole Explosives For Burglaries

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, January 17. Maurice David Didham, aged 27, unemployed, was convicted on 12 charges of breaking and entering by Mr R. M. Grant, S.M., today. Didham, represented by Mr M. K. Quinn, pleaded guilty to all charges. Detective Sergeant J. W. Totill said the offences occurred between August 2 and January 10.

The police alleged Didham broke' into the explosives shed of Uden Brothers’ quarry, Putaruru, between August 2 and 4, 1965, and stole detonators and gelignite. Between August 23 and 24 he entered the Farmers’ Trading Company, Ltd., Tokoroa, used explosives to open a floor safe and stole £1562 0s 5d in cash and £728 19s 9d in non-negotiable cheques. On December 1, Didham broke into the Morrinsville Supermarket, Morrinsville, and attempted to blow open the safe.

When the attempt was unsuccessful he stole goods valued at £3B 18s. Damage to the safe amounted to £35. He entered the Foodtown Supermarket, Papakura, on December 17, but stole nothing. Second Attempt Didham returned to Morrinsville and made another attempt on the safe at the supermarket on December 20. He again failed, but left with goods valued at £22 10s. On December 21, Didham made an unsuccessful attempt to burgle Tokoroa Motors, Tokoroa, He shifted his operations to Auckland and broke into the premises of E. A. Beer

and Company, Ltd., Panmure, stealing goods valued at £35 Is lOd. Didham broke into four other Panmure premises, between December 30 and January 10 this year. They were La Gonda Fashion Stores, G. D. Mack, public accountant, Marriots’ Supermarket and the Bamboo Restaurant. He stole four cartons of cigarettes from the supermarket. He was arrested on January 10 when he was surrounded by police during an attempt to blow open the safe in the Panmure T.A.B. Mr Tootill said Didham had used the money he stole from the Farmers’ Trading Company, Tokoroa, to buy a car and pay £5OO deposit on a flat. Convicting Didham, the Magistrate said he might have to be sentenced in the Supreme Court. He remanded him for a week.

More Helicopters. The remaining three Bell Sioux helicopters for the Royal New Zealand Air Force will arrive by Hercules transport at Hobsonville on Wednesday. The first three Sioux machines arrived on December 17, and one will participate this week in Army manoeuvers.—(P.A.)