Mechanics Who Steal From Motor-Cars

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 50, 21 May 1927, Page 11

Mechanics Who Steal From Motor-Cars

MAGISTRATE’S COMMENT “TOO MUCH THIEVING” “HPHE trouble is that there is too much of this thieving from motor bikes and cars,” said Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., this morning, when two apprentice mechanics appeared in the Police Court charged with stealing a motor-cycle lamp and a pair of pliers. “Sixty or seventy per cent, of these offences are committed by mechanics,” said Chief-Detective Cummings, “and a lot of the cars that are unlawfully converted are taken by someone who knows something about them.” The chief-detective made it. clear that this statement did not apply to the two accused. For the defence it was pleaded that the two youths ha£ had some beer and that the theft was simply a foolish prank. Next morning the lad who had taken the lamp “got the breeze up,” to us his own words, and hid it. The other pleaded not guilty, as lie had not actually committed the theft, although he was present when the lamp was taken from a machine outside a dance hall. “Well, I don’t want to start them off with a conviction,” said the magistrate, who held the lads equally responsible for the theft, “the best thing I can do is to accept the defence and perhaps it wouldn’t be a bad plan to adjourn the case for six months and they’ll be under your observation” — turning to the constable who had just given evidence. “I'm not so foolish as to make rules,” Mr. Hunt went on, “but I think we’ll have to watch these mechanics who come up and treat them a little differently.” The two youths were each ordered to pay 10s costs to recompense the owner of the lamp.