Arrested At Gunpoint

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31109, 12 July 1966, Page 15

Arrested At Gunpoint

(N.Z. frtst AttocWion) AUCKLAND, July IL Two men were arrested at gunpoint in the Ministry of Works premises in Penrose, Auckland, the evening after a £15,000 payroll had been delivered there, the police told Mr H. Jenner Wily, S.M-, today. The Magistrate convicted Peter Fulcher, aged 26, and John Sidney West aged 39, both unemployed, on charges of breaking and entering the premises and possessing house breaking Instruments and remanded them for sentence. Both pleaded guilty. Detective-Sergeant E. R. Hutchinson said that on June 21 the Ministry's depot had

received an anonymous telephone call asking for employment and details of when and how much employees were paid. Last week the police followed the two accused, in Fulcher’s car to the premises. They appeared to be studying the lay out of the buildings, but when workmen passed by the car they pretended to be reading. Later that afternoon the pair watched the arrival of the payroll. They then drove off. Police were posted inside the building that night and were armed because Fulcher had made threats to shoot the police. Fulcher jemmied open a window and let in West They were caught by the police while interfering with the safe.

Fulcher was ordered four' ■ times to drop a pick-bead 1 which he was holding menac- • ingly before he complied.! Later Fulcher admitted theyj - had intended “to blow the' i safe.” Both had gelignite, deton-' j ators. one of which was , already connected to a fuse, r wire, batteries, fuse wire and > plasticine.