On This Day, 25 January 1917

Birmingham Mail

Thursday 25 January 1917

DISCS IN AUTOMATIC MACHINES

Eight boys whose ages ranged for 10 to 14 were before the magistrates in the Birmingham Children’s Court to-day, charged with stealing chocolates and cigarettes from automatic machines. The chocolates, etc., were extracted by means of metals discs which it was stated had been stolen from a factory yard in Benacre Street. Seven of the boys were placed on probation for twelve months; one, against whom evidence was not sufficiently strong, was discharged. The Chairman (Mr. S. E. Short) asked that the occupiers of the factory should be warned to make it difficult for boys to take these discs.