TOBACCO THEFTS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1932, Page 7

TOBACCO THEFTS

£2oo’ A WEEK FOR. SIX MONTHS. MELBOURNE, June 23. Tlie conviction of leading tobacco retailers that stolen tobacco, cigarettes, and cigars are being placed for sale somewhere in Melbourne, and that they are being retailed in damaging competition with them, directs attention to the systematic thefts of tobacco which have been going on in the metropolitan area for some months. A leading member of tbe Retail Tobacco Sellers’ Association estimated that the quantity of cigarettes, etc., stolen, would average more than £2OO a week for the last six months. In tobacco-trading circles there is a belief that groups of foreigners are perpetrating the thefts, but so well organised is tile trade in the stolen tobacco that these groups are said to be stealing and delivering to unscrupulous retaileivs to order. The police contend that- they are practically powerless unless identification of tlio stolen property can be effected. They advocate, a- system of marking five goods. Large retailers who handle an immense quantity of tobacco and eigarettees weekly contend. however, that a system of marking tile goods would .pat up their already small margin of profit.