NOT THEFT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 July 1924, Page 2

NOT THEFT.

A MISSING MOTOR-CAR, The story of -the lost motor-car which was reported to tbe New Plymouth police on Tuesday morning proved to ne less serious than was at iirst suspected (says the Herald), it transpired that one of the directors of the company owning the garage in question had taken the car without the knowledge, at that time, of the manager, and had gone to Hawera in it. Here the driver met with unexpected trouble, which once again illustrates the small hope of success in eluding detection by the police there is in such circumstances. Tlie matter having been placed in their hands, all stations in Taranaki, and probably further afield than that, had been advised of the disappearance, and supplied with an accurate description of the machine. As a result of this the number of the car caught the eye of a vigilant officer in Hawera as the driver was leaving to return to New Plymouth. The station was at once advised and a constable dispatched on a motor-cycle to overtake the supposed thief.. Normanby was also communicated with, instructions being given to intercept the ear. On being met by the officers of the law, the director of the company had to return to Hawera, where he at length satisfied the police as to his rightful possession of the car, though it was not until the New Plymouth police had been Communicated with that tjie Hawera. station released the car. Whether the car was taken in an ordinary way, or as a warning to the keeper of the keys of the garage against, the danger of leaving tlx?- place open, the incident shows that care should be exercised in taking a car from a garage without the knowledge of those in charge.