ARMED BURGLAR

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1932, Page 6

ARMED BURGLAR

A SEARCH IN SYDNEY SUBURB. SEVEN ROBBERIES COMMITTED. SYDNEY, October 18. What was described by one of our, •Newspapers -Jis ‘‘one of the most extensive police operations ever undertaken; in Australia to capture one man” was conducted when the .police drew a cordon across Vauclu-se Peninsula, which separates Watson’s Bay 'from the Rose, Bay district in tile vicinity of South Head.

Their object was to capture an armed burglar who had succeeded in committing no fewer than .seven robberies from various houses in the area late on Friday night and early on Saturday morning. The man spent at least six 'hours in “paying cal’s,” and as he was Carrying an automatic, something like a reign of terror was set upin this beautiful little suburb. But the di-play of force—there were about 100 policemen and a number of residents engaged in the .search—seems to have thoroughly scared the robber, wibo ‘‘went into smoke” during the day and made his way out between the watchers under cover of darkne-s. But it was an alarming -episode, as showing how easily a large population can be plundered and terrorised by a single desperado if he is _ well -armed and is tolerably regardless of consequences. The police are tsaid tn have identified the man and are confident that they can find him.