BANK ROBBERY

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 302, 22 December 1898, Page 8

BANK ROBBERY

Hitherto in Auckland knowledge of bank robberies has been confined to reading accounts of how these daringthefts were committed elsewhere, consequently when, on November 2S, a rumour was circulated in town that a bank had been robbed in Karangahape road, it was at once looked upon as a hoax. Unfortunately, however, there was no doubt as to the fact that a most impudent theft was committed yesterday afternoon in the Karangahape road branch of the National Bank of New Zealand, under the chai-ge of Mr.' E. E. Alexander.

Apparently the theft was the adroit act of a sneak thief, for the manager

is quite at a loss to understand when or how the money was taken. In the drawer underneath the counter were notes amounting to a considerable sum at 12 o'clock, and about 2.30 p.m. the unpleasant fact was disclosed that nots to the extent of £930 had been abstracted in some mysterious manner, although the manager was not from behind the counter during business hours. When Mr Alexander began to make up the money about 2.30 o'clock, he at once discovered that a theft had been committed, and lost no time in communicating with the head office in Queen street and also the Police authorities. Inspector Cullen and a number of detectives were busily engaged yesterday evening making inquiries, and a thorough search of the premises was made. Strange to say the thief did not secure either the gold or silver in tne drawer, having apparently only had time to take the bundle of notes. The total amount missed was £930, of which £235 was in one pound notes, £105 in live pound notes, £ 270 in teii f pound notes, £220 in twenty pound notes, and £100 in fifty pound notes.