THEFTS BY CHILDREN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20101, 22 November 1939, Page 6

THEFTS BY CHILDREN

GOODS VALUED AT £225 TWO GIRLS DEALT WITH CHANCES TO MAKE GOOD Three boys and two girls appeared this morning in the Children’s Court before Mr. A. Coleman, S.M.. with him Mrs. Ada E. Beer, J.P., on charges of theft, the total value of the goods stolen amounting to £225 17s 4id. In all eases the children were warned that they wore fortunate that their ages made it possible for them to be dealt with in that court so that they would be given a chance to mend their ways. If the crimes they had committed had been done at a later 'age they would have been treated as i criminals and publicity would have ' been given to their offences and convictions. A 13-year-old boy was placed under the supervision of the child welfare officer for one year for stealing a wristlet watch, valued at £5, from the dressing table of the house of one of his mother's friends. De-tective-Sergeant R, H. Waterson said , that the boy had frankly admitted the theft and the watch had been returned in good order. Warning to Young Girl “If there is any further offence in a year or two you will be treated like any other criminal in the public court,’’ said Mr. Coleman to a 14-year-old girl charged with the theft of a gold ring, a gold bangle, and £l2 in cash to the total value of £23 10s. She was placed under the supervision of the child welfare officer for two years, restitution being ordered. Senior-Sergeant J. F. 11. Macnamara said that the girl had gone into a house and stolen the money and jewellery from a trinket box in a front bedroom. She did not go to school that day because she did some shopping, and lost some of the money from her bag while in town. The girl was untruthful, and her parents were having trouble with her. Girl Stole Coat at Dance Saying it was fortunate for her that she was not a few months older and was able to escape harsher treatment in the open court, Mr. Coleman admonished and discharged a IG-yoar-old girl charged with the theft ot a coat valued at £2. She was ordered to be placed under the supervision of the Child Welfare Department until the value of the coat had been refunded. Detective-Sergeant Waterson said the coat was stolen from the dressingroom of a dance hall during a ball, and the girl had been seen wearing the coat at a later date when riding a bicycle in town. She said that she had found the coat, in an alley-way. The coat had been altered to change its appearance, and had been rendered useless to the owner.