“A CONSISTENT THIEF”

Evening Star, Issue 23373, 16 September 1939, Page 14

“A CONSISTENT THIEF”

MESSAGE BOY'S OEFENCEC

STOLE FROM POSTMAN'S BAG

[Per United Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, September 16. While delivering parcels around a suburb a 14-year-old message boy removed 71 postal packages from a bag on a postman’s cycle outside a shop and, taking them home, opened them in his bedroom and removed cheques, postal notes, money orders, and stamps of a total value of £26 12 4d, garter using some of the money orders. The day "before he stole four books of art union tickets from a shop .counter and, after selling some of the tickets at 2s 6d each, destroyed the others. This morning he pleaded guilty in the Children’s Court to the thefts. “It is obvious you are a thief, and a consistent thief, and we would be failing in our duty to the community if we did not place some restraint on you.” said the Magistrate, Mr Reid, in committing the boy to the care of the State. Detective-sergeant Hakrow said the vouth had been employed as a message boy. and while on his round had re'moved the packages from the postman’s bag. He opened the letters in his bedroom and removed all the cheques, postal notes, money orders, and stamps, cashing some of the money orders. Of this money he had spent 13s 7d. He had destroyed throe cheques, and all the letters and other notes had been hidden in a wood shed. He had.been before the court in 1936.