SIXTY YEARS AGO Tuesday, August 7, 1962

House-breaking wave at Tarbert

Property valued at over £100 was stolen in a wave of house-breaking which swept Tarbert in June, and at Campbeltown Sheriff Court Juvenile Court on July 27, the thieves were revealed as five boys aged 17, 15, 15, 14 and 13, the eldest of whom being described in court as the ringleader.

Mr AIB Stewart, fiscal, stated that the elder youth was responsible for the disastrous outbreak of thefts which swept Tarbert.

He broke into an electrical engineer’s premises and stole various articles.

Later, when he had inveigled other boys, said the fiscal, he led another break in at the premises when £102 and two wristlet watches were stolen.

Mr Stewart added that the eldest youth returned once more to the premises on June 20–21 and stole another watch and 6sh 3d (32 pence) in cash.

Later that same evening, the same youth broke into a grocery shop with intent to steal and to complete the evening broke into a Tarbert garage.

Mr Stewart said two of the ringleader’s former accomplices apparently felt they had served a long enough ‘apprenticeship’ under him and set out on their own raids.

A 15-year-old boy, who was spending only one night in Tarbert with friends, accompanied them when they broke into a sail makers’ premises in Tarbert.

For the 13 and 15 year old boys, Mr JW Logan said both came from respectable homes.

Sheriff RB Miller continued the case against the eldest youth until August 10 pending the preparation of an approved school report.

The 15, 14 and 13-year-old boys were placed on probation for two years and their parents were ordered to find £5 security for two years’ good behaviour, and the 15-year-old visitor to Tarbert was admonished.