THIEVES IN BANK

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1932, Page 5

THIEVES IN BANK

ATTEMPT FOILED I TO OPEN SAFE WITH DRILL. (Australian Press Association ) SYDNEY, December 2. Cutting their way with a hack saw through the side wail, thieves at a recent week-end made a daring attempt on a safe in the Edward Street branch of the National Bank of Australasia in Brisbane. Operating a hand drill preparatory to using a safe-cutting device, the intruders succeeded only in mutilating one side of the safe, and after many hours’ work were forced to abandon the attempt. The safe, in addition to the bank’s private papers, contained cash amounting to £71)0. Entrance to the bank premises was effected in an ingenious manner. Tho thieves first forced their way into an unoccupied shop situated two doors from the bank. Climbing the stairway, they reached the upper floor, and from there prised their way through several disused doorways above the shop of F. Coomber and Sons, tobacconists, to reach the dividing wall of the bank, which was constructed of wood. With the use of hack saws the thieves cut away a jagged section of panelling near the roof of the bank. Clambering through, they lowered themselves, possibly with (the aid of a rope, on to the floor of the upper section of the bank. The safe is in. the manager’s office, which is situated iD the rear portion of the ground floor. The intruders endeavoured to drag the safe clear of the wall, to enable . them to attack a rear section. The safe apparently proved too heavy. After getting it clear a few inches, they commenced to operate with a steel drill on the side. When the branch manager opened the safe he found the contents intact.