WOMAN’S EXPLOITS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 957, 28 April 1930, Page 10

WOMAN’S EXPLOITS

DARING DISGUISES FOR THIEVERY “IN CLUTCHES OF CROOKS” Amazing coolness and enterprise was attributed to a slim, pretty and expensively dressed young woman, said to be "in the clutches of an international band of crooks,” when Helen Doyle, aged 30, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment at London sessions, reports the “Sunday News.” Her exploits were those of a super hotel thief. Detective-Sergeant Welsby said he estimated the total value of jewellery and other property in thefts attributed to her was between £4,000 and £5,000. She was found guilty of three charges of receiving jewellery worth £BSO from large Kensington hotels. “For over two years she has been a tremendous source of trouble to the police and one most difficult to arrest,” continued the detective. Bold Methods "Her method in ail cases is to enter boldly as a guest and, well-dressed as she always is, to proceed to the top floor and enter rooms while the occupants are at tea or dinner. "On finding jewel-cases or handbags she locks herself in the bathroom, extracts all valuables and walks out. She always uses a taxi.” “Our difficulty has been,” he added, "that some of her victims had said they saw a brunette and others a blonde.” He produced two fair side-pieces of hair. “She wears false hair such as this,” remarked the detective, “and under her hat they give the impression she is a blonde. Without them she is a brunette.” "The only thing in her favour is that she is passionately fond of her child,” said Sergeant Welsby. She had paid upwards ot £ll3 to a foster-mother and supplied ample clothing and necessaries. Mr. Moore asked: “Do you agree she is in the clutches of an international band of crooks who exploit London hotels by means of women like her?” “I have no information of that,” answered Sergeant Welsby. Mr. Moore added: “It would appear that she is bound to the chariot wheels of a band of international crooks. If this woman herself has had all these thousands of pounds, what has happened to the money?”