JEWEL THEFTS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 October 1932, Page 2

JEWEL THEFTS

( HOW HAZELDINE WAS TAKEN. (Per Press Association — Copyright.) CHRISTCHURCH, October 20. The theft of one thousand pounds worth of jewellery and watches from the premises of G. Coates and Co., on October 8, was admitted by Gordon Webb Hazeldine, in the Magistrate’s Court to-day, when be pleaded guilty to a charge in respect to this robbery, and two others of breaking and entering, and a fourth of theft. Hazeldine was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence on all four charges. In the evidence, it was stated that £BOO worth of Coates’ stock had been recovered.

A story of the capture was told by Constable Walton, of Darfield. On October 10 he.drove his car to a corner to which he had been instructed to go. Hazeldine was waiting nearby with a .parcel under his arm. They tallked about buying jewellery, and the accused asked) witness if he “had the chips to pay for them.” The accused wins satisfied when witness showed him a roll of note's. Hazeldine then went .away. He came back with three parcels containing jewelleroy and watches, which he emptied into a suitcase. He tasked £4OO for the lot. Then, said Constable Walton, ho (Walton) fired a shot as signal, and detectives, who had been ambushed round them, came tat Hazeldine. The latter remarked that it was “n fair cop.”