“SNEAK=THIEVING”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 July 1938, Page 8

“SNEAK=THIEVING”

MASTERTON MAN BEFORE COURT. SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT. “This class of offence is purely sneak-thieving and is very difficult to detect," stated Detective-Sergeant W. Kane in the Masterton Magistrate’s Court this morning when Ernest Minifie, a driver, aged 28 years, was charged with the theft of four money boxes and contents, a bottle and a half of whisky, of a total value of £3 11s 6d. the property of Cyril Randal Judd, of Mauriceville. Accused was also charged with the theft of £l, the property of Clarence Meredith, of Tikitapu.

Accused was arrested in Masterton yesterday by Detective-Sergeant Kane and Detective Hay. He pleaded guilty to both charges, on the first of which he was convicted and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment. On the second he was convicted and discharged. Detective-Sergeant Kane said Minifie had been employed on a bread round. Numerous complaints had been received regarding missing sums of money and articles. When his customers were away they usually ' left the doors open and he put the bread inside. Money was often missed when accused visited the houses. Yesterday a pound note was missed from a house served by accused. When arrested he had the £1 in his possession. He admitted taking the money and also the money boxes from Mauriceville, which contained about £2 10s.

“This sort of thing cannot be allowed to go on,” stated the Magistrate, Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., when convicting and sentencing accused.