THIEVES’ CAREER CHECKED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 391, 27 June 1928, Page 1

THIEVES’ CAREER CHECKED

Otago Gang Run to Earth CAR CONVERTING AND BURGLARY Press Association. DUNEDIN, To-day. BY the capture of three young men, George William LTren, David Bruce Beveridge, and Francis Sinclair Ward, detectives have stopped an epidemic of burglaries and unlawful conversion of motor-ears in Dunedin and Oamaru.

To-day Uren and Beveridge pleaded guilty to the conversion of six cars valued at £1,900, two charges of theft and one of breaking and entering, while Ward and Beveridge admitted eight charges of converting cars, valued at £2,895, one charge of theft, one charge of attempted breaking and entering, and four charges of burglary. The gang’s plan was to take a car from Dunedin parking areas to Oamaru and there convert other cars to their use. The buglarles showed more than amateur skill. The biggest burglary was of Wright, Stephenson and Company’s offices in the Town Hall building at Oamaru, an entrance off the main street being gained by keys found among papers concerning the firm in the back of a converted car.

Ward and Beveridge opened the safe and removed cash boxes and goods. They stole £lO4 in money and goods, making a total value of £l7O. Returning to Dunedin in two converted cars they divided the spoil, throwing the cash boxes and papers into a creek and destroying cheques. Among their equipment were rubber gloves, torches, masks and a great collection of burglars’ implements. Accused pleaded guilty to all charges and were committed for sentence on the indictable charges. On the summary charges sentence was withheld till the Supreme Court sentences are passed. Uren’s bail was renewed, but bail was refused Ward and Beveridge, the magistrate saying the offences were not due to adventurous silliness, but to distinct criminality.