MANY RAIDS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1929, Page 1

MANY RAIDS

burglar admits CRIMES,

AUCKLAND, July 1. The young man who, as “Auckland’s cat burglar,” gained much notoriety recently by his night raids on .big buildings in the city, Reginald Gordon Cotterill, aged 23, looked very sheepish as he stood in the dock at the Magistrate’s Court this morning and heard many people toll the story of his escapades. There wore twenty-seven- charges brought against Cotterill. One was for obtaining a motor car valued at£loo from Edgar Pearce by means of a valueless cheque for £IOO. Others were charges of breaking and entering and theft, and breaking and mitering city offices with intent to commit crimes. Nearly all the offices were situated in the heart of the city in largo Ibuildings. From eleven offices Cotterill obtained goods andmoney totalling £lB 3s 6d. From the remainder lie took nothing. ■ Several bunches of keys which he stole from various offices were produced by, the police.

It took a long time for the depositions of the witnesses to be typed. These witnesses simply stated that they left their premises securely locked to return the following morning to find them ransacked. Entrance was effected by forcing open windows, ipeniug windows, and by entering fanlights. In some cases entrance vas gained through windows after Cotterill had walked across thin skylights. Accused pleaded guilty to all charges arid was committed for sentence.