THIRTEEN BURGLARIES

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1526, 23 August 1912, Page 4

THIRTEEN BURGLARIES

WHAT A LAD DID LONE-HANDED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) , Auckland, August 22. At his home at Heme liay yesterday afternoon Kenneth Edward Ciirrie, a boy under sixtoen years of. age, was arrested on several charges of burglary. When taken into custody he conlessed to having committed, lone-banded, thirteen burglaries within tho past four months, and ho led the detectives to a large cupboard under the stairs in his home, where he had hoarded up the proceeds of the burglaries. Tho lad is well-grown for hlfl age, and works for a gunsmith. His particular hobby is electricity, and his las to in' literature of recreative sorts runs to the sonsational typo so common nowadays. These tastes aro revealed in his hoard of electrical appliances, and the manner of their accumulation. Ho had tho key of tho cupboard, which wa6 dedicated to him and his works, and unknown to his parents (people of unquestioned good character and position). He mad® his adventurous trips to town early in tho ovenings, and on Sundays, so his confession runs. Tho fact that his ventures into burglary were contemporaneous with the recent safo-breaking episodes rathor mixed matters for the detectives, who for the time wero inclined to suspect a connection between the two classes of burglary. But tho safe-breaking was discontinued, and the more petty breaks went on, While small evidences left behind bespoke youth in the person or persons who trespassed. It was thought that several youths wore implicated, but the lad Currie asserts that he carried out tho offences without assistance, obtaining admittance in most cases by prising up sido and back windows. Tho fact that tho whole of tho missing property has been found in his possession tends to corroborate his word, for between May 20 and last Saturday, Currio in this way collocted clcctrioal batteries, accumulators, and other appliances approximating in value J£79 ss. 6d. In addition ho visited other shops, collecting respectively at each placo tobacco and cigarettes, botilo3 of scent, and office accessories. lie also got £1 in money. Ho visited some of these places nioro than once. By this arrest, in conjunction with previous mid more sensational ones, the police have torn nway tho mystery which shrouded the rather disturbing burglaries of tho past few months, practically every reported case having been covered or satis, factorily explained. Tho lad was brought beforo Mr. E. C. Cutteii, S.M., this afternoon, when tho charges wero reduced to common theft, and accused pleaded "guilty." Ho was committed to the Wereroa Training Farm.