CAR CONVERSIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 March 1939, Page 9

CAR CONVERSIONS

SUSPECTED MEN ARRESTED. WIDESPREAD POLICE SEARCH. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 8. A gradually widening search by police and detectives throughout North Auckland for three men suspected of converting two cars and of entering a garage in Helensville on Tuesday night had a startling sequel at midday today when a youth was admitted to hospital and two others were arrested following a motor collision near Rawene. In less than 12 hours the scene of the police activity moved over 150 miles of highway from Helensville to Rawene, where the second of the cars alleged to have been stolen was stated to have been recovered. The first of a chain of incidents was the removal of a car from Albert Street, Auckland, on Tuesday night. A pursuit was organised by a constable in Helensville, but the fugitives escaped on fog-shrouded roads and the car was later discovered abandoned in Parkhurst, five miles from Helensville.. However, another car was found to be missing from the garage of its owner Mr. I. Sheffield, Parkhurst. No further clue as to the whereabouts of the missing car was obtained till midday, when the police in Rawene received advice from a farmer that a collision had occurred on the Waima Hill, about eight miles from the township. They were informed that one was driven by a Maori and the other, which was travelling toward Rawene, contained three young men, one of whom had been injured. The latter car was fairly extensively damaged. Constables went to the scene of the accident and found that the description of the car travelling north was similar to the one that had been reported missing. The three men were taken to Rawene, two being placed under arrest and the third, who was suffering from bruises and shock, being admitted to Rawene Hospital. His condition is not serious.