Great Stamp Robbery.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 281, 6 December 1901, Page 1

Great Stamp Robbery.

BURGLARS SECURE £15,000 WORTH. Chicago, Qet. 21. One of the most daring burglarios on record took place at the Chicago Post Office some time between Saturday' night and Sunday morning. Stamps to the value of over £15,000 were stolen by burglars, who were undoubtedly among the most expert in America, and as skilful as they are daring. The post office is a temporary woodon structure, tho new one being in course of erection. The robbers gained admittance oy breaking open a little door in a board fence surrounding the foundations. A tunnel, 300 ft. long, left in the construction of the new post office, runs from one side of the building to the other. Tho robbors followed this tunnel to the end, then cut through 2ft. of brick wall to the main floor, coming out exactly beneath the solid steel vault containing tho stamps. The burglars drilled ninety-seven holes, and removed one of the steel plates, and thus gained admittance. The work must have taken several days to perform, and how they escaped detection is marvellous, as many workmen were about and several policemen were partrolling insido and outside the building.

When the cashier entered the vault this morning he found the contents in great confusion. The stolen stamps filled sevoral boxes, and the burglars evidently carried them out to a waggon and drove off. The marks of wheels were plainly seen. Efforts to trace the robbers proved futile. The stamp vault was only 6ft. from the cashier's safe, containing £60,000 in money. It is believed that the burglars, in the darkness, mistook the stamp vault for the treasure box.

The whole detective force of Chicago is working on the case. Several post-office employees are under surveillance and some arrests are probable.