A WAVE OF CRIMINALITY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9092, 19 May 1908, Page 4

A WAVE OF CRIMINALITY.

Highway men, or footpads, burglars and thieves generally, appear to be on the increase in the dominion. This morning we publish particulars of a series of most daring robberies, with violence, which were perpetrated early on Sunday morning last, at Christchurch, while several instances of "gangs" at work in various provinces have been recorded Lately. Petty thieves, who adopt eomewhat artful dodges to attain Hheir end, are also in eviden.ee of late. One of the latest, dodges, it is said, to gain admittance to private houses is tor a workmanlike looking man to request politely to be allowed to uso tho telephon-j. He is working "miles away from the boss," and is anxious to communicate with him at once. The matter is very urgent. The desired permission having, been obtained,, and the thief in disguise left in the house with "ro eye upon him" for a few moments, one can imagine the result. Criminal waves seem to sweep periodically across the dominion, and they are apt to be more serious and more frequent in times of depression than in those of prosperity. To the vigilance of the police force, and the watchfulness of the public, we must look to see that the periodical

"outbursts" do not become chronic. We believe that we are correct in stating that criminals are surprisingly few ;in the case of New Zealandborn dominionists, and it is, therefore, all the more earnestly to be desired that the undesirables, who inflict themselves upon our shores, be either speedily captured and put under restraint, or else be compelled to carry on their unlawful practices in another country, as the result of the efforts of an alert and intelligent police force in this.