STREET BANDITS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 167, 16 July 1924, Page 6

STREET BANDITS.

FOUR CASES IN ONE NIGHT. MELBOURNE WORRIED. PUBLIC ADVISED TO ARM. (From Onr Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, July 12. Melbourne was shaken at the weekend by the successful raids carried out by street bandits, four cases occurring on Friday night and Saturday morning;. Three men were concerned in each instance, and one of them was armed with a revolver. Since the outbreak the city has been like an armed camp, and the authorities, failing to arrest the culprits, have advised the people to go home early and stay home. The bandits seem to have scared Melbourne properly. The masked and armed bandits carried out their raids at the week-end at St. Kilda (two) and Kew and I'arkville. Included in the victims was George Macandic, Secretary to the Naval Board. When in Sackvjllc Street, Kew, on Friday night, three men sprang at him, and while one pointed a revolver at his face, the others held his arms and went through his pockets. They threatened that if be moved he would have to take the consequences, and they made their escape without being sighted by any other person in the vicinity. Similarly lonely spots were selected by the bandits at which to spring on their other victims, and the fact that the robberies occurred so wide apart, and within such a short space of time, convinces the police that the thieves used a motor car. They are satisfied it was the same gang all the time, for all the victims give similar descriptions, though none is sufficient to identify them. George Manly, a clerk, of East Street, St. Kilda, was the first victim. He was turning into Alma Road, on his way home, when Wiree men jumped from the shadows of some trees. One pointed a revolver, threatening to shoot if Manly moved. He had. no time to make a fight even if he felt inclined, for the two others had him by the arms in a twinkling, and his watch and chain, with a few shillings in cash, were soon transferred from his pockets to theirs. Manly described the men as being dressed in dark clothes, with handkerchief mask 3 covering their features. He telephoned the police immediately the bandits had departed, but though an immediate search was made, no sign of the marauders was obtained. Almost simultaneously with his complaint came a similar request for police action from West St. Kilda. Herbert Osborne Matthews, an engineer, of Canterbury Road, Middle Park, was on his way to the St. Kilda railway station when, at Cowdcroy Street, there was a rush of men from behind, and ho was pinioned, while a revolver pressed into his ribs indicated the futility of making any attempt to escape. His pockets were rifled, and £11 10/ in money, as well as his watch and chain, were taken. The last robbery of the night was carried out at the expense of Herbert Roberts, of Gipps Street, East Melbourne. He was driving a motor car through Royal Pa/ade, Parkville, when he was hailed from the footpath. Thinking the men wanted a lift, he stopped the car, and was immediately bailed up by the man with the revolver. The stoppage cost him a watch and chain. Such a determined raid roused the police, and every available detective and plainclothes man was placed in a search which was unsuccessful. Melbourne seems to get panicky easily, and the common assault cases, which occur all the year round, and are never noticed, have been magnified into concerted attacks by gangs. As a result, ridiculous instructions to all and sundry to go armed have been countenanced, and Melbourne seems to be making a mouthful out of its experience.