DARING THEFT

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1932, Page 5

DARING THEFT

£lO6 STOLEN

IN AUCKLAND THOROUGHFARE.

(By Telegraph—Per'Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, May 27

Shortly before noon two men entered the office of Parkinson and Co. monumental masons, in Victoria Street, and assaulted the accountant aud stole £ICO in single £1 notes. The men then jumped into a two-seater car and escaped. They are being pursued by detectives.

The accountant, Mr W. Dias, aged 35 years, was pinioned by both arms from behind and pincl.ed u meici ully by the second man. The money which was in a hag consisted of five bundles each containing £2O, and six single notes, also about £6 in silver. The silver was scattered over the footpath as the two men ran out and joined a third whe had remained at tiie wheel of the car.

Dozen of people were in close vicinity, but the brazen robbery was committed so quckly that- everybody was taken by surprise, but the car’s number was noted.

The accountant was returning to the office from the bank, and. when within fl few yqrds of the office he saw n man coming at luiu. He was struck by n heavy blow oil the side of* the heud, and staggered and fell on the footpath near the doorway of an empty shop. The men then pounced on him and seized the money. He looked up and saw the men jumo on t’e v runningboard of a car which disappeared quick, ly. A number of people looked on without helping, but it appeared that they were flabbergasted. An attempt was made bv a constable to pursue the car but. the van which he commandeered was too slow. Just after .starting from the scene’s of the robbery, the thieves’ car collided with another and narrowly escaped a capsize. ’ , Mr Dias received medical attention but was not seriously hurt.