DETERRENT TO THEFTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 554, 5 January 1929, Page 5

DETERRENT TO THEFTS

CHECKING AT CITY MARKETS HEAVY LOSSES PkEVENTED A simple system of checking -reduce that has been sold saves auctioneering firms in the Auckiand City Markets hundreds of pounds a week. It is not the same in other cities Vew Zealand, where less rigorous ’vs terns of checking permit annoying losses. Comparatively speaking, the losses suffered by Auckland firms are of small . ccount. Checkmen are stationed at the auction entrances, and purchases arl d purchase bills are carefully examined. Were it not for the presence l the checkmen, heavy losses could be expected. One manager gave it s his opinion that his firm could lose a 3 much as £3O of produce u day u-ere the checkmen not employed. Taking this figure as representative of the losses that all the firms at the markets could suffer, the thefts during a rush period such as has been experienced over Christmas and the yew* Year could reach a considerable <um. NO TRUST SHOWN Firm managers do not doubt that thefts would be rife unless strict supervision existed. Some visitors t(? the markets are not trusted. Cases of theft occur now and again. Recently a young man altered his bill ro represent that he had bought more goods than he had really. He was removing the balance of the goods from the auction rooms. The firm concerned had no option but to take strong measures against the offender, .vlany would-be thieves are deterred by the supervision in the sale-rooms. Vegetables littered around the salerooms provide a good field of operation for a petty thief. It is not impossible to slip produce into kit bags although the presence of many employees makes such a practice full of risk. Suppliers to tlie auctions occasionally suffer at the hands of people with an eye for small thieving. Open motor-trucks piled high with produce could be a great: attraction to thieves were it not for their very public position.