DISGUISED AS WOMAN

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1929, Page 7

DISGUISED AS WOMAN

BOY HOUSEBREAKER. A remarkable story of the exploits of a boy housebreaker, who used stolen clothes to disguise himself as a young woman has been disclosed through an arrest made by Plain Clothes Constables Boyd and Bullen in a house at West Coburg (says the -Melbourne Argus of July 30). The boy, who is aged 16 years, had eluded the police for more than three months, although on several occasions he had oeen chased. Tfie police allege that he had committed about 30 robberies, and has stolen goods worth £l5O. In March the boy escaped,from the Royal Park Home, to which he had been committed for housebreaking and stealing. From a house at Brunswick, shortly after his escape the boy equipped himself with a woman’s clothing., 'ihe p'olice searched the boy’s room and found several complete outfits of women’s clothes, including a fawn hat into which a brown wig had been sewn. The boy easily obtained the confidence of the householders, and was accepted as a girl boarder at many homes. After he left some of their clothes tvere missed. The only men’s clothing the boy had was a ragged suit. The value of the property found in the youth’s room, which also women’s gloves, blouses, hats, jumpers, and shoes and stockings, was about £SO.

Plain-clothes .police at Coburg and Brunswnck who investigated many of the robberies did not suspect that the offender was disguised until a woman whose home had been entered, saw the “woman” loitering some distance away. She noticed several irregularities in the “woman’s” clothing which confirmed her suspicons that the wearer was disguised. Although her complexion was dark the suspect had light hair showing under jier hat. Plainclothes Constables Bullen and Boyd have traced the youth to several homes. The youth, who has been charged with housebreaking and stealing, will appear before the Children’s Court!