SHOP-LIFTING ADMITTED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 177, 13 August 1937, Page 4

SHOP-LIFTING ADMITTED

Youth Was Intoxicated Wrheu He Committed Thefts BENCH SUPPRESSES NAME Supprossion of tho nauxe was granted by Mr. J. Miller, S.M!., in the Napier Magistrate's Court this morning in tlxe case of a youth of 18> who was convieted of shop-Ufting from threo departmental stores, This leniency was extended because the offendes had been committed while the iciofendant xvas under the infiuence of liquor and did not appear to be part of systematie thievxng. Detective-Sergeant H. Nnttall prosccuted, and Mr. C. W. Nash, appearing for tlxe defendant, entered a ixlea of guilty to the three following charges: — (1) Theft of a pair of glovos, an elestrie torch, one tootli brnsh, a conxb, a compact, and . three rings to the value of 5/-, from Gamages, Ltd, (2) Theft of a pair of glovos .aud a watoh, valuod at 15/5, from J. E. McKenzie, Ltd. (3) Tlxeft of a pair of women 's gartcrs, oue bottle of face lotion and a mouth organ, to the value of 2^d, from Woolworths, Ltd. The oft'ences were all committed in Napier' on August 6. Defendant had been observed to take some articles -from Gamages, said the detectivfi-sergeant, and when the polico arrived ho admi.tted stealing the articles enunxerated. He was partly urider the pfluence of liquor, aud appeared hulf-st'upid at the time, Mr, Nash asked that tho name of the defendant be suppressed, as he was at present awaitxng the rosult of aix application to join tlxe Air Force. He liad just turned 18, and it was Jxopod that, now he had come to Napier and was 'living with his mother and elder krother, tho supervision of his conduct would be more strict. " Shop-lifting is a very sorious xnatter," said the Magistrate, "and it is often necessary, even in the case of first oft'ences, to sond- the- oftender to prison. In your case, had I thouglit you were gi,ven to this, I should have sent you to gaol. I intend, however, - to give you a chance, but it wiil be your last chance." Tho defendant was placed on probation for two years, In regard to suppression of the name, the Magistrate oaid that slxop-keepers were entitled, in such cases, to know who was skop-lift-ing, that being part of the punishment, However/the order was made.