WHOLESALE BURGLARY

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 41, 20 March 1930, Page 9

WHOLESALE BURGLARY

SOME THIRTY CHARGES OF THEFT THREE YOUNG MEN PLEAD GTJILTY.

'~ An amazing story of wholesale burglaries in Wellington andi suburban dis: triets was told in the Magistrate's Court last week, when three young men pleaded guilty to some thirty charges of breaking and entering shops and' premises during the months of January and February. The accused were John Rodney Thorburn labourer, aged 19; Victor Campbell McDowall, labourer, aged 19; andNorman Henry Blair Ross, labourer, aged 20. Chief Detective C. W. Lop&eU, who conducted the prosecution, explained ■■ that there were thirteen charges of unlawfully converting motor-cars to hisown use. against Boss, and six against both the other two accused. Mr W- E. Leicester appeared for the accused. . ' 'Boss, who is a married man, aged 20, and resides with his mother at 41 Druinmond Street, was in all the burglaries with which the trio were charged, and his,statement gives a gooci idea of how the gang operated.

"One night about a month ago/ explained Boss in his statement, "I was with McDowall and Thorburn. We ; all got into a motor-car we saw in Hall Street. We went to Upper Hutt, and broke into Hazlewood's shop there." They removed certain articles, and re-, turned to the city in the car. About a fortnight ago, Ross continued, together with Douglas Thorburn, he took another car from Upland Crescent, Kelburn. They again went to Upper Hutt and again broke into Hazlewood's shop, removing further goods. Another venture in a "borrowed" ear removed! from Roxburgh Street, led to the robbery of a tobacconist shop at Moera. The goods removed included 64 packets of cigar-/ ettes. After driving back to town the car was left in Mem Street. A visit to Lower Hutt again in a "borrowed" car was tlie next exploit, and a local tobacconist suffered the loss of "v tobacco pouch- and about .20 packets of cigarettes. -'■'•■

Similar .visits, Ross confessed, were paid to premises at Miramar, Brooklyn, Island Bay (twice), Berhampore, Kilbirnie andi the Berhampore~ngolf JjnTts. All the visits were made in motor-care unlawfully used. The total number of '/converted" caTS was eight.

Th<f accused, all pleaded guilty to the charges and were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

Eight summary charges of .converting motorcars to their own use were adjourned sine die.