EXPERT SHOP-LIFTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1920, Page 5

EXPERT SHOP-LIFTING.

CHARGE AGAINST A GERMAN. QUAINT ARRAY OP GOODS. • ■" 7" ByTelesrspii —Presr Association. Anefclaad, Last Night. A lriahof Gwman birth, named Louis VOb tinem, 47 years of age, who had hitherto: been known in a small circle in the city *» a gftdener, of mild manner, sad. given to attending strictly to his ova business, appeared before Mr. J. £ Wl«», S.M., this morning, as the alleged airthijfc of a series of the most expert akop-tifting pperations which have yet diitaribed the peace, happiness aad profits of the (&epkeeperp of Auckland. About half-past six one morning last Constable Holt surprised this m«l) tempering with a locked case at one «f Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs' island windows in Queen Street, and, despite an ho was attending to the firm's business, the man was taken by the constable to the. police station. From what was founfon the man, and was discovered subsequently at his lodgingMM, thepoKce made a collection' of goods (■early all new goods) valued at just ov<sr £4OO. Just on four weeks hav<s bttfe Speht by Sergeant Dempsey and Qaaktable Holt in finding owners for the property, which resulted in about sixty shopkeepers about the city and suburbs identifying £2BO worth of millinery, dMipery, jewellery and mercery which had disappeared from their several shops dttrtMg the past eighteen months. As & result, von Einem had put ftminst Um W aharges of theft of goods t2ten-from- Various shops, etc., and valued at £278 3s 2d, one charge of theft of unidentified goods, valued at £lO4, and oao-sharga of ' theft of £2l worth of goodi at Wellington. One section of the cowt&TCMtt in. which'the goods were dis- . played consequently had the appearance ofa well-stocked sample room. Bottles of bay- nun hobnobbed with delicate and Mlinate underwear fabrics that ladies •rifart, suit eases and brief bags were inter*tie«sd with Stetson, velOur, felt tweed tets, t, stylish toque perchtd tjraijjy-oB a typewriter, a smart evening gMK gave a touch ot color to a coper given over to«ever*l portions of tailorma4» *Ufts, and a pair of modish brown bwf IfltinW teas) rivalled in dimensipai a. Corona typewriter, while fountain, p«u of* variety of makes and wfwitj Appealed in company with SeywWwiit<feß, a couple of "umbrellas', ft thermos flask; and a lady's hair switch. jjfl*e»e w«fe any special departure from catboflcKyof taste displayed it was perhaps in the matter of fountain pens and ligts. Ammg the assortment put for* watdalmoingoads there were 17 founof them gold-mounted) j which were idesitifed-and claimed, and 88 wjjfo unclaimed. There were 11. IWa elaiijwsd by loftal shopkeepers, and half a ' dom not yet identified, and ranging frtM%lE gtinaa Stetson by way of veloun and fetta down to a work-a-day ttroeKiiat. The fceWtof of the Cftses occupied all aad had not concluded when the Courf adjoarned.