THEFT BY TRICKERY

Hokitika Guardian, 7 November 1931, Page 3

THEFT BY TRICKERY

WOMAN. DUPES SHOPKEEPERS

OFFENCES IN PONSONBY

AUCKLAND, Nov. 4

Thefts• through trickery by a young woman have been committed in shops in Ponsonby Road, Karangnhape Road, and at Three Lamps. It is reported that no large amounts have been involved. On Saturday morning a woman, described as about 30 years oi'd and neatly dVessed, .Went into a fruiterer’s shop in Ponsonby Road, and ordered vegetables ahd. tinned fruits. She produced a £1 .note and said to the assistant, “I cannot leave this on the counter.. I’ve

had notes disappear before. Will you ! .put some of the /goods in a sugar bag ' 'while I take some of them out to my car 1 ' I’ll be back in a minute.” vVhil<? the assistant was away looking for a . sugar ' bag the woman picked up an armful of goods, ' mostly tinned fruit, valued at 6s 6d, and left. It was some time before 1 then shop assistant realised that she had been duped, and,-.when she went out on the road there was no/sign of the woman nor a motor car. This ruse was worked in a Karangahape 'Road cake shop, where goods valued at 5s 8d were stolen. Just as the woman was .about to-leave, she said to the ‘7. assistant, “I - think’ I had better, have a v . birthday ,cake,...too,)’ .A cake which met r '.l'with 'her approval was produced, and ..while. the, assistant went- to the -back of ' ,Tthb shbp to find a suitable container, the bogus, customer -went.; Again . she had VtbiU jthe stoi'y- of the car waiting outside. v ■ , ~. .-•/ ...v ' •._■■■■ -’I- believe the offences have been fairly common in the Ponsonby and Newton districts,” said a Ponsonby ■a.jf-sfedrekeeper '-yesterday. ■ He said' a Ghin- ■ ese fruiterer and a butchei’ at the three Lamps had recently been caught in the , same “Way. . / ,