DARING RAID.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 281, 28 November 1938, Page 5

DARING RAID.

POSED AS JEWELLER. "SERVED A CUSTOMER." GUNMEN STOLE £5000. NEW YORK, November 2. Three armed bandits raided a jeweller's shop in the crowded lobby of the Waldorf Astoria, New York's biggest luxury hotel, grabbed £5000 worth of precious stones, trussed the shop's proprietor and his assistant, and walked out quickly with trigger fingers! on their guns. I But in their haste to make a getaway! they missed diamonds valued atf2o,ooo which lay on a shelf of an openj safe behind the counter. The robbery, which took only five' minutes, was a model of careful plan-! ning. During that time a customer,] Mr. L. B. Lansberry, who had innocently | entered the shop, was met by one of Ithe bandits who, posing as an assistant,' [showed him a tray of wrist-watch' glasses, took Mr. Lansberry's proffered! watch, promised to repair it, and' escorted him to the door. A few yards away, in the back room of the shop, while the little drama of salesmanship was being played in front, the proprietor, Mr. R. W. Johnston, and a clerk, Mr. Albert Feingold, writhed on the floor as the other two bandits bound them. Johnston was stopped from shouting when the customer entered only by the point of a pistol being pressed against his forehead. Two minutes later, when the customer had gone and the gunmen were taking a quick look round the shop, Johnston yelled, "Here's the house detective with a gun." This inspired shout saved the diamonds in the open safe. The bandits marched quickly out and were lost among the scores of people in the lobby. j The Waldorf Astoria is situated ir [Park Avenue, in the heart of New •York.

The Waldorf Astoria is situated in' Park Avenue, in the heart of New York. -