GALLANT EFFORT TO STOP CAR THIEF

Chronicle (Levin), 14 May 1946, Page 7

GALLANT EFFORT TO STOP CAR THIEF

—Prcss Association

police sergeant's perilous ' journey

By Telegraph -

AUCKliAMJJ, IVLay 13. Standing on tlie running board' with his ann imprisoned in one of the windows, an Auckland police sergeant displayed amazing courage and tenacity in an attempt to apprehend the driver oi' a niotor car as it sped through the suburbs in the early hours of the morning. In spite of the sergeants' gallantry the man was ahle to get out of the vehicle and escape arrest. Wliile on patrol in a police car accompanied* "by a driver, the sergeant noticed on the roadside a car answering the description of one reported to have been stolen. When he got out to investigate, a man at the wheel of the vehicle prepared to drive, off. The sergeant leaped on to the offside running board and put his hand through the window to switch off the ignition. To thwart the sergeant the man wound up the window of the car, imprisoning his arm between the glass and frame and drove away at a high speed witn the sergeant standing perilously on the running board. In an effort to dislodge him the driver twisted and turned the steering wheel, making the car swerve violently from one side of the road to the other. The driver of the police car followed helplessly behind, being unable to overtake the vehicle in front in case a collision occurred or the sergeant feli off on - the roadway in front of his wheels. Then the sergeant was flung against the front of the zig-zagging car and, still maintaining his hold, he opened the bonnet and brought the vehicle to a standstill by wrenching out a handful of wires from the engine. Before the fugitive could be arrested he opened the right hand door of the car and bolted. He was last seen disappearing over a fence into the darkness.