CUNNING THEFT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4464, 12 June 1930, Page 4

CUNNING THEFT.

DISAPPEARANCE OF £2BO. theft froai post office. A cunning thief stole £2BO in hank notes from a stamp counter at lhe Sydney General Post Office recently. Mr. Arthur Morton, officer in charge of the stamp sales, section in the main hall at the post oili.ee, was called from his desk to answer a bogus telephone call. He returned to his desk within a few minutes, and discovered that during his absence someone had slipped behind the counter and taken a roll of bank notes. When he was called to the telephone, Air. Morton hurriedly placed the bank notes, which he had been counting, in a eashbox. The person who telephoned inquired whether postage stamps could be exchanged for duty stamps, and made other requests for general information regarding stamps. It was obviously an effort to keep the official at the telephone as long as possible.

In the meantime, a young woman stamp-seller in an adjoining cubicle saw a tall well-dressed man with a black moustache —probably a false one —at Air. Morton's desk. He looked up, said something about, •■looking for Air. Morton,” and hurried away. The young woman thought that the stranger was a postal official. Mr. Morton returned to his desk a few seconds later and immediately discovered the loss of the money. The young woman told him of the stranger she had seen, and a search was instituted.