THEFT OF THEATRE TAKINGS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 191, 9 May 1940, Page 7

THEFT OF THEATRE TAKINGS

Man Arrested After Chase Down Street

An attempt to steal box-oliice takings from a theatre at a time when there was a large number of people about, was described in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday, when William Chandler, carpenter, aged appeared before 31r. Stout, S 31., charged with the theft of £'i in money, the property of the J. C. Williamson Picture Corporalioit, Ltd. Detective-Sergeant W. McLennan, who prosecuted, said Chandler had recently come to New Zealand from Australia. At. S pan. on April 30 he entered the box office of the Regent Thea I re, 31anners Street, and told the girl he was a policeman ami wanted to examine (he. money she had been taking, as lie understood counterfeit notes were being passed. He then grabbed some notes ami, pushing the girl aside, ran out to a taxi which he had kept waiting. The girl raised the alarm and the manager ami another girl went after the man. They managed to stop the taxi, but Chandler escaped down the street, pursued by members of the public. lie was tintlily caught, brought back ami put under arrest. It was a serious offence, and appeared to have been planned.

Mr. A. J. Mazengarb, who appeared for Chandler, said his client had never been in any trouble before. He agreed with Detective-Sergeant McLennan that the theft was serious, but said that it iiad the essence of stupidity. In sentencing Chandler to three months' imprisonment, with hard labour, the magistrate said it was not a sudden temptation, but a planned theft.