Below is a selection of historical stories from the Northern Advocate (1931), New Zealand Herald (1932), Rotorua Morning Post (1941), and the Central Hawke\u2019s Bay Press (1948).<\/p>\n
Thieves scared<\/p>\n
Woman discharges gun.<\/p>\n
Intruders flee. <\/p>\n
(Special to \u201cNorthern Advocate.\u201d)<\/p>\n
Northern Advocate, May 1, 1931<\/p>\n
New Plymouth, this day. <\/p>\n
On Tuesday night a severe fright was given to some thieves at a farmhouse by a woman who discharged a shotgun at them while they were in the act of removing stolen goods from the premises of Mr. J. Gibbs, of Wharehuia.<\/p>\n
At 10 o\u2019clock, when Mr. Gibbs and some friends were listening to the wireless, Mrs. Gibbs went to the back door.<\/p>\n
As she opened it, she saw someone moving stealthily near the garage. <\/p>\n
She called to her husband, who, however, did not hear her above the noise of the wireless.<\/p>\n
Remembering that there was a shotgun just inside the door, Mrs. Gibbs rammed a cartridge into the breech and sent a shot a few yards in front of the intruders, who promptly dropped what they were carrying and made a hurried exit.<\/p>\n
A search near the front gate revealed a tin of petrol, a grease gun, and a packet of butter.<\/p>\n
Daring petrol theft<\/p>\n
Locks on pumps broken.<\/p>\n
134 gallons removed.<\/p>\n
Discovery in Wellington.<\/p>\n
[BY TELEGRAPH.\u2014Own correspondent.]<\/p>\n
New Zealand Herald, June 27, 1932<\/p>\n
Wellington, Sunday.<\/p>\n
Thieves broke the locks of two petrol pumps in the city and stole 134 gallons of petrol yesterday afternoon or evening.<\/p>\n
A group of three pumps, owned by Magnus Motors, Limited, stand in Opera House Lane, which runs down the side of the Grand Opera House from Manners Street to Wakefield Street.<\/p>\n
The locks of two of the pumps were found by a nightwatchman to have been broken and the. fact that a large quantity of petrol had been stolen was soon discovered.<\/p>\n
The third pump had not been touched.<\/p>\n
After the locks had been broken the petrol was evidently pumped from the tanks into a waiting vehicle or vehicles.<\/p>\n
The discovery that the locks had been broken was made at 9.45 p.m., but it is not known when the theft occurred, or how the petrol was taken away.<\/p>\n
The attendant locked the pumps at noon, and between that time and the discovery of the crime, 134\u00bd gallons of petrol were stolen.<\/p>\n
Petrol stolen<\/p>\n
Motor-cycle thief warned about seriousness of his offence <\/p>\n
Young labourer fined \u00a37<\/p>\n
Rotorua Morning Post, March 1, 1941<\/p>\n
The suspicious proximity of a motor-cycle to a car in Pukuatua Street and a strong smell of petrol attracted attention to a motor cyclist which resulted in the taking of his number, and, finally, his appearance in the Rotorua Police Court yesterday afternoon charged with the theft of two quarts of petrol.<\/p>\n
The defendant, Leslie Terence Lang, aged 18 years, pleaded guilty, and was fined \u00a31 by Messrs. J. J. Dillon and T. H. Sloane, Justices of the Peace.<\/p>\n
Detective Sergeant J. White stated in evidence that the offence occurred last Saturday evening.<\/p>\n
He had warned Lang of the serious nature of his offence and pointed out that the car might have belonged to a doctor, in which case the loss of the petrol might have had disastrous consequences.<\/p>\n
He had advised the defendant to sell his motor-cycle as it was an expensive luxury to a farm labourer earning \u00a32 a week.<\/p>\n
Petrol thefts<\/p>\n
Central Hawke\u2019s Bay Press, February 26, 1948<\/p>\n
Petrol thefts from cars, a prevalent wartime practice, are again being freely reported in Dunedin.<\/p>\n
At least three centennial visitors who left their cars out at night found the tanks dry in the morning.<\/p>\n
Automobile Association officers believe that with the reintroduction of rationing, thefts will recur to an even greater extent.<\/p>\n
The heavy drain on service station supplies created this week by the centennial events, was the probable cause of the thefts.<\/p>\n