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SHOPLIFTING LOOT—Ole Anderson, chief of police and Lt. Charles Heilman check over part of the articles recovered from a gang of 18 boys and girls who stole several hundred dollars worth of merchandise from stores over a year’s period. Little of the material could be returned to stores (Tribune Photo)Juvenile Shop-Lifting Gang Broken Up by Local PoliceA juvenile shoplifting ring . . . he “Yo-Yo gang” . . .was un-overed and broken by police dur-ng the week, but investigation is ontinuing today.Eighteen boys and girls ranging n age from 9 to 14-years-old, but nostly under 12, are involved in he thefts. Loot recovered totalsmore than $200, but police say that there may be more valuable items not yet returned.Included are the yo-yo’s . . . more than 30 were taken . . .and ranging from cap guns and knives to clothing, ski-poles and alarm clocks.The youthful gang started operating more than a year ago, but the material recovered had been taken mostly during this Christmas shopping period. Little of it can be returned to the stores from which it was taken.All will be taken before Juvenile Judge Norris O. Peterson, Ole Anderson, chief of police and Lt. Charles Heilman said.Discovery came through a series of incidents when one of the boys was forced by friends to return some articles he had taken or face being turned over to police. The lad made a brave show of returning the articles and was congratulated by the store manager who. fortunately, took the boy’s name.He reported the name to police.Mother Takes HandLater the boy’s mother found other articles in his possession and marched him downtown to return them.Another store manager reported it to police who then questioned the boy. He gave up two names.From there it grew until all 18 names were revealed to police. All wTere questioned in school Tuesday. Many are in the same grade in the same school. Most of them knew that the others were operat ing, but there was no central leader directing the operations.They disposed of the loot by giving it away to friends or selling it around school. Some they hid around their homes or in homes of neighbors.Forced to Take Thing*Some of the children said that they were unwilling victims of the ring, but were more or less forced into taking items. One girl used her Christmas money to pay for articles she had taken.Much of the material has been lost beyond return and restitution will be a difficult problem, Chief Anderson says, owever, he adds there will be repayment.The children gave no reasons for their thefts, but admitted that they were not worried about being caught because they expected only a “talking-to” and a scare.Face Juvenile CourtHowever, says Chief Anderson, this is too big and all will be brought into juvenile court with their parents.Police obtained a list of stolen articles which runs two pages in length. It consists mostly of toys, but there are also some articles of clothing, camera film, expensive pen and pencil sets, shot gun shells 22 caliber rifle shells, comic books and cigarettes.Chief Anderson said he hopes it will end juvenile shop-lifting in Albert Lea.
Newspaper Details
Albert Lea Evening Tribune
Albert Lea, Minnesota, US
Thu, Dec 20, 1951
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Jason T.
USA 20 Jan 2025
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