THEFT OF MAIL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4910, 2 December 1925, Page 4

THEFT OF MAIL.

EXPERTS AT WORK.

PUZZLING CASE FOR DETECTIVES.

A registered mailbag has been stolen. Theoretically, it is impossible for the robbery ,to have been committed. But tlie fact remains that it has vanished, and mailbags do not walk off of their own accord. The case presents to detectives the most mysterious mail robbery that has been carried out in this State (says .a Sydney paper). In the mail, it is thought, are letters containing cheques, bonds,, drafts, and securities, most of which will not be negotiable, but. it is, probable that some of tlie letters contain money and postal notes-. What is the value of the mail, will not be known for some time, as many of the letters are from overseas, and it may be weeks before postal officials will know exactly the contents; of the mail.

An interesting point about .the robbery is that there were about half a dozen letters containing postal notes for the Federal, elections, in the mail. They were forwarded from divisional returning officers. It is probable that votes from hundreds of people have been stolen.

The -mailbag was stolen somewhere in or between Newcastle and Sydney, and the police and postal, detectives have no clues' to indicate where. The registered mailbag was put in an ordinary mailbag, which was properly closed and sealed. The mailbag arrived in Sydney with .the seal still intact. But when the bag was opened the registered mail had vanished ! Why the detectives are satisfied ■that .the registered mail, was placed in the bag is because a witnessing officer, a despatching officer, and a mail officer saw it go into the big bag, and made sure it was properly sealed and closed. They vouch for that fact. Yet at Sydney two witness officers —as is the case with every mailbag —watched inlently tlie operation of opening the bag and extracting the mail. An advice -slip said .there was. a registered mailbag amongst the contents, but none was found. And they say the seal of the bag had not been touched. The officers, are experts, and they can tell when a seal has been broken. No wonder the detectives are puzzled ! No man alone could have carried out the robbery. There has been collusion somewhere, and the theft has been committed by men who must have close knowledge concerning postal work.

This is the second - mailbag robbery within the last few weeks. Recently a bag containing £lOOO in notes was stolen from the Junee "express. It may be found that the same men are responsible for both robberies.