BAG-SNATCKER AT WORK

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 933, 28 March 1930, Page 11

BAG-SNATCKER AT WORK

ATTACK ON WOMAN AT REMUERA ESCAPE BY MOTOR-CAR While his companion drove a motor car slowly along Victoria Avenue early on Wednesday evening a thief snatched a handbag from Miss J. E. McDonald, of 55 Victoria Avenue, and jumped into the car. escaping without difficulty. The two men are believed to have been using a motor-car which was stolen from a City street. Miss McDonald left her home at 7.40 p.m. to attend a bridge party in Burwood Crescent at the foot of Victoria Avenue, and was walking down the left side, approaching the tramcar waiting shed at the foot of the road when a motor-car overtook her. She noticed that the near door was open and that there were two young men in the vehicle, who seemed to be studying the numbers of the houses alongside. At 4he foot of the avenue the men appeared to have some trouble with the car. It turned round a Shore Road, motor-bus, which was standing there, and commenced To go up the avenue again. One of the men got out and walked up the avenue also. When close to Miss McDonald, ho staggered across in front of her as though drunk, and as she Stepped aside, he suddenly snatched the light evening bag she was carrying. The chain by which she was holding it broke and the man rushed after the car, which was travelling slowly up the street, jumped into it, and was driven away. NO ONE IN STREET

Miss McDonald screamed, but there was no one in the street except the bus-driver, who did not see the theft. She called out to seevral passing cars, but they did not stop. She then ran into the house of a neighbour, Mr. H. T. Johnson, and told him of the theft. Mr. Johnson wanted to follow the thieves in his car. but they had too much of a start. The police were immediately communicated with, and de tectives were sent to the locality. Beyond the fact that they were young men. Miss McDonald could give no description of the two occupants of the car. The street was dark and there were several trees at the side of the road.

The handbag contained 35s in silver and some personal belongings. Miss McDonald noted the last two numbers on the registration plate of the car, and these were the same as that of a car which had been stolen from a City street. The car was a coupe, painted a dark colour. The description also partly tallied with that of a stolen car which is owned by Mr. M. M. Louisson. of IS2 Remuera Road. It was taken from the top of Shortland Street, and was recovered yesterday morning in Norfolk Street, Ponsonby.

This is the second bag-snatching episode which has taken place in Auckland within the past few days, the first assault taking place at the Domain.