Daring Jewel Theft.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1922, Page 1

Daring Jewel Theft.

TRAP LAID IN HOTEL

TALE OF SICK WtFE

LONDON, Aug. 29.

“He turned on his heel, laughed, liowed himself out, and slammed the door, and that’s the last we saw of him.” This is how a jeweller’s assistant descrilies the climax of a clever hotel theft in London, where n smiling, debonair youth walked off with C 2501 worth of rifigß, Using the flame of “Mr Bolman,’' lie visited Mappiii a'iid Webb's, in Regent street, and asked to have the rings sent to a Piccadilly hotel for the inspection of liiS sick wife. Tl)6 .miifiagor says;—“We have often heard that story, so I sent an assistant with a burly messenger. ‘Bolman’- carried out tlio sick wife trick to a certain point. When ho wished to show the rings to bis wife in an adjoining bedroom, the jeweller politely asked to be allowed to accompany tiieiil. ‘Bolmail’ deniiiffttd, and then played a real trick. He was examining and admiring a ring, and suddenly shot out his arms, knocking the two custodians in a heap. 14c vanished, and when they tried to follow him the door handle came off. It had been unscrewed. The other door was fastened by fixing a holt. The telephone wire was cut and the bell rope, hanging by a single strand, broke. They opened the wi'hdow and attracted the attention of a police station under their very nose.

“A sergeant railed out; ‘You’re making a great fuss; what is It all about?” When he learned the facts he rushed round to the hotel, but flic bird had flown.” . .