PILFERING OF SERVICE STORES

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 199, 20 May 1944, Page 6

PILFERING OF SERVICE STORES

Sentences In Auckland “TANTAMOUNT TO SABOTAGE” (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 19. “This case conicseas a nasty shock to the Court and must also to the public, specially as two of accused have had overseas service,” said Mr. Luxford, S.M., today, when four aircraftmen of the R.N.Z.A.F. appeared and pleaded guilty to thefts of Government property. Ernest Raymond Harland, 23, and Robert Watson, 31, pleaded guilty to charges of stealing four motor tyres, tubes ami wheels valued at £4O, and four kits of tools valued at £36, while Harland alone was charged with stealing a vice valued at £5, and four tins of paint valued at 30/-. Albert Roy Sigley, 32, pleaded guilty to stealing five, kits of tools valued at £45. Reuben Eriiest Scarborough, t 41, was charged with Receiving two kits of tools valued at £lB. A civilian, Orren Maurice Bernasconi, 29, motor engineer, pleaded guilty to receiving four kits of tools an t a vice valued at £4l, knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained. The police evidence was that the property belonged to the Air Force and was found missing from the Air Force marshalling yards in Auckland. Wheels and tyres l?nd been taken from a bomb-car-rier and specialist tools from mobile workshops. The authorities viewed these thefts most seriously because the 14 sets of tools stolen were all front-line equipment already sealed awaiting shipment to the forward battle areas for the Air Force. If the shipment could not be made, it might have resulted in the grounding of aircraft. Both the police and counsel for Scarborough said it was in his favour' that after giving one of the other men a hand to shift some tools he realized the seriousness of what was going on, consulted another member of the Air Force, got the tools he was concerned in removing and placed them back on Air Force property with the intention of putting them in the workshop again, but he was sent away before he had an opportunity.

The magistrate said that what was done was really tantamount to sabotage, and those who thought they could get awav with it knew what they would get if they failed’. The men were entitled to no leniency. They chose to pilfer service stores, to dispose of them, and shara the proceeds. Bernasconi, as the receiver, was really worse than the thieves. Sentence of nine months’ imprisonment with hard labour was passed on Bernasconi, Harland, Watson and Sigley. Scarborough, who was in a different position, was fined £lO, immediate payment being ordered..