LAUNCH-OWNERS SUFFER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 442, 25 August 1928, Page 1

LAUNCH-OWNERS SUFFER

SYSTEMATIC ROBBERIES ARREST MAY END RAIDS Launch owners on the Auckland waterfront have been heavy losers this year. In the Queen’s Wharf police station are quantities of goods and clothing which have been recovered during the past few days. These had been stolen from launches during the winter months. Recently the police arrested two men, who will be charged with a number of thefts from launches. This may end the raids which in the past have harrassed boat-owners of Auckland. It is generally thought that the thefts from small craft have been systematically carried out for several months pa«t. Mr. Charles Palmer, who owns the motor-yacht Adelaide V., was one of the heaviest losers. Yesterday he stated that altogether he had been robbed of about £SO worth of goods, which included a gramophone and records, clocks, rugs, cutlery, torches, etc. Mr. Palmer found that his launch had been raided early iq April and at that time several other boats had also been robbed. Many of the goods recovered by the police have been identified by Mr. Palmer as those taken from his boat. Mr. V. Masefield, owner of the Oenone, has lost about £4O worth of goods from his launch. Among them was an emery grinder, rugs, clothing and a large quantity of tinned foods. Some of these articles have also been recovered by the police. Mr. Masefield said that thefts from boats on the waterfront occur each year, but they have never been so serious as this season. Apart from the goods taken Tfc* the thieves, considerable damage was done by them in slashing and destroying curtains and other furnishings on the boats. Skylights and doors have been broken open and fittings wantonly destroyed. “I believe the thefts were committed systematically,” said Mr. Masefield, “by men who were accustomed to boats, as they seemed to know where to find everything.” Other launch owners who have suffered during the season are Mr. S. Relive, owner of the Cyrene. Mr. W. Casey, whose new boat Imanota was raided, and Mr. Thode, of West End Road. Many of the articles recovered by the police have been identified by launch-owners, but much that was stolen has not been recovered. The two men, who will be charged with the thefts, were arrested by De-tective-Sergeant McHugh and Detec-tive-Sergeant Doyle, who have been investigating the complaints.