MORE CARE WANTED

Chronicle (Levin), 5 February 1947, Page 4

MORE CARE WANTED

TREATMENT OF YOUNG TRAMPS BY PUBLIC The necessity for exercising extreme care in accepting stories jf youths seen waridering in the streets at an early hour, or asking favours of householders, was pointed out by the police today. Cases have occurred where su.'-pected crimihals oi escapees have received assistance from unsuspecting citizens, ^ The efflciency of the police depends largely on the co-cpera-cion of the public, and promptness m notifying any unusual or suspicious occurrences often hastens ;he effective administration of jdscice. Following the apprehension of a youth by the police recently, it was iearnt that he had been given ^reakfast by a local resident, who had accepted his story that he had yeen passing through Levin but had missed a train, The resident had chen driven the youth to the raiU way station. The youth concerned was wanted y the police, and was now further suspected of having committed :,heft in a house in the vicinity of ihe one in which he had asked for a meal. In giving this stranger a .neal and driving him to the sta-r .ion, the resident had unwittingly assisted his escape. In such cases residents should endeavou.r to substantiate the story, or notify the authorities' "of fche incident as soon as possible, as such action might result in the speedy apprehension of a suspected criminal or escapee.