STREET THIEVES

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1933, Page 5

STREET THIEVES

WOMEN 'SHOPPERS ROBBED, i ALL BUT BABY TAKEN. ‘ : 'AUCKLAND; August 26. Thieves in Auckland are extending their operations'beyond hats, coats apd umbi:eldas-- l from'Y.-cloak .rooms and other articles which singly may be secreted and are indulging in bolder activities. Cases reported this week sfrow the length to which thieves are going. A resident of Herne Bay,'while shopping had her child with \'M i» a push chair, in which she placed her purchases. At* td'ftctoil by -some goods in «. sho.ii window, and knowing that she would be absent for not more than a . few moments, she placed the push chair against th© window while sh© entered the (shop. She Was l away little:' more than a minute, but that time was sufficient for a thief. Everything but the child was abstracted from the push chair and there was no sign of the thief.

In-another oaee, a- woman was shopping in Newton and she placed her purchases in >a 'basket which she carried ove r her arm. Presently she wa-s conscious of the weight becoming lighter, •and it was then the woman found that every one of the articles she had bought had been taken from her. Again there was -no trace of the thief. ,A boot repairer wars the victim in a .further -instance. His habit was to place on his counter hoots and. shoes which had been .repaired, but he has discontinued the 'practice since -lie was called on to replace a valuable pair of shoes which were stolen. He was just in time a few days ago to prevent his window being plundered of leather cut in convenient sizes for boots and shoe repairs.