BOY JOY-RIDERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1926, Page 4

BOY JOY-RIDERS.

THREE BAYS WITHOUT FOOD. ••• : i AUCKLAND, Jan. 10. Agter three days of liberty, during which they commandeered two motorears and careered about the countryside, sleeping under hedges at night, and going without food, two youths who escaped from the Receiving Home at Mount Albert on Wednesday morning arc again in custody. They were arrested yesterday morning by Detectives Barling and Craigio, after a chase that commenced tbe previous

evening. The boys Andrew Platt, aged 15, and Hector Campbell, aged 11, got away from tbe Home before noon on Wednesday. They remained togetlier and evaded those who were sent out to search for them, and passed the night under a hedge. Shortly after noon on Thursday the boys look a car belonging to Robert Millar, driving it from Kingston avenue to Blockhouse Bay. where they spent the night. On Friday they drove about the country side in the car till tbe benzine supply

was exhausted. Bearing the ear near tho Public Works camp at Oi'akoi, the pair of runaways made they way hack to Auckland on foot, arriving at til Benedicts Street about 8 p.ni. They found another car similar in make to that of the one which th"v had taken the previous day. It belonged I" F.mile Leong. The pair drove off, following a route along I’onsonhy road. Travelling at a high speed, 'they (lashed past Bclcrfiivcs Barling and .C’raigie. who were on the pavement. Sighting the lads, the Detectives immediately took up the chase, but were handicapped by noL having a ear at their disposal. For some hour-. the,\ searched the localities usually Ircpueiiled by tile elder boy, but without result. Till 2 a.ln. yesterday both detectives made every effort to piek iip the trail of the pair who had disappeared in a cloud of dust along the Ponsonlvy road. After

a few hours’ sleep, the officers made an early start yesterday morning in the car taken by the hoys on Thursday. Air Afillar driving. The trail led to New Lynn, where a search of the locality was made. On passing through Point Chevalier tlie detectives realised that they were close on the heels of the delinquents, and at 11 o’clock they were not surprised to sight the hoys in the “borrowed” mo-tor-car. The hoy Platt, for whose arrest a warrant was signed liy the Afa-

gistrnte only on Saturday, u’as at the wheel, lie soon licoamo aware of the fact that.' tin' detectives were in pur suit, and aceeleral.injs. set off toward: drey F,ymi. Until car.- attained ; liieh speed, hut the joy-riders maih. much slower time than did the dotee iives, and an esciline; chase term inated near the zoo. where the hoy? were ordered to slop. Detective Thirling jumped on to the running hoard and arrested both lads who are now

back ;it tho Homo. They "ill bo 1 > 1*011«rlit before tho Magistrate on Monday. Five charges oT unlawfully converting cars to his use will lie preferred against Platt, wlio is i alleged to have taken three ears prior to liis escape from the institution. On the occasion of his first adventuree in borrowed ears, Platt was noticed by Detective Darling when lie was driving a ear. Tbe detective obtained a fast ear. and after a long chase overhauled the lad. who was sent to the Homo and remanded to appear before tho Magistrate on Saturday morning. Xoither of the ears was damaged. "When arrested the boy.s stated that they were without food for three days.

They did not have a bite till Saturday morning, when Platt obtained two loaves of bread nnd some sardines from a grocer, obtaining credit in his

father’s name. Credit is due to Detective Barling for bis work in capturing the boys, and this adds another entry to bis already long list of successes in connection with theft of motor-ears and similar depredations.'