THEFT OF A RING

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 117, 20 May 1939, Page 11

THEFT OF A RING

PREVALENT TYPE OF

OFFENCE

DETECTIVE'S COMMENT

Comment regarding the prevalence of certain types of thefts both in Wellington.'and- other parts of New Zealand was -made/By Detective-Sergeant; P. Doyle in the Magistrate's Court today. Mi1, j. L. Stout, S.M., was on the Bench.

When. Matthew Shaw, a waterside' worker,, pleaded guilty to the theft of a ring!' from W. M. Hay craft, jeweller, Willis Street, Detective-Sergeant Doyle said that this type of offence had been very prevalent in the city during the last few months, and not only in Wellington, but in Auckland and other places. He said that about 3 p.m. on May 17, Shaw, accompanied by a woman, entered the premises 'of W. M. Haycraft in Willis Street, and asked the shop assistant if he could see some wedding rings. He was shown a number of ■ rings; and while this was taking place the accused was noticed handling quite a number of,, other rings. He finally chose a ring valued at £2, and arrangements were made to have it altered to a certain size. The woman left the shop, and after she had gone the accused palmed the ring which was the subject of the present charge. The matfter was .subsequently discovered and reported to the police. Acting-Detective F. O. Scott interviewed the accused, who denied any implication in the matter. However, a search of his rooms'was made, and the ring, was found. The accused finally admitted the offence.

"Complaints of p/operty having been taken in exactly the same way as the accused committed this offence have been received from other places," Detective-Sergeant Doyle added. "There is not the slightest reason why this man should have resorted to an offence of this kind. He is in permanent- employment, and has been employed on the waterfront for thirty years. He is 59 years of age." . VI did it on the spur of the moment," said the accused, in answer to a question from the-Magistrate. "I have not been before the Court in my life before." He. was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment with hard labour. YOUTH'S THEFT. .The theft of an overcoat and a hat by Barrie Grey^.a film projectionist, aged 18. years,, was a sample of another type of theft that was prevalent in the c'ty, according to Mr. Doyle. The accused, Mr. Doyle said, visited the University on. the afternoon of May 3 and entered the cloak room, where he stole the overcoat and hat. j He disposed of ,the coat to a secondhand dealer. When located last night hy Acting-Detective C. Urquhart the 1 -.t was found in his possession. j "Grey recently absconded from licensed service in Hawke's Bay," Mr. Doyle added, "and yesterday, he wasj mixing with members of the criminal class." Although he had not previously appeared in the Magistrate's Court he had appeared for offences in another Court. Grey was sentenced to fourteen j days' imprisonment.