CITY ROBBERY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 121, 24 May 1944, Page 6

CITY ROBBERY

TWO ASSAILANTS ARREST OF SUSPECTS Waylaid, assaulted and robbed of nearly £200 by two men in Grey's Avenue early this morning, Mr. Leonard Sandbrook, aged 30, proprietor of the Brown Derby restaurant in Upper Queen Street, received injuries to his face and head which necessitated his removal to the Auckland Hospital.

After stealing his wallet, containing about £185 in bank notes and dollars, and a bag containing about £6 in silver, the two assailants made off, leaving their victim lying on the footpath in a semi-conscious condition.

Detectives A. G. Harris and W. T. Roughan were early on the scene and later went to Otahuhu, where at 8.50 a.m. they arrested two young men on a joint charge of robbing Mr. Sandbrook and at the time of such robbery of using personal violence to him. The police state that from the two men they recovered about £170 in cash.

Dazed by Blow

After locking his restaurant about 4 o'clock this morning Mr. Sandbrook started off towards his home, which is near the top of Grey's Avenue. When close to his front gate he was suddenly attacked by a man, with whom he grappled. Both f6ll to the footpath.

Mr. Sandbrook says he was "doing quite well" with this man when another man approached him from behind and struck him a heavy blow over the left eye. Dazed as a result of this blow, he was unable to continue resistance. After taking his wallet and bag of silver from him the two men decamped.

Mr. Sandbrook says he called loudly for assistance, but no one came to his aid. Slowly he managed to reach his home. The police were notified and he was removed to the Hospital by Constable Wright in a St. John ambulance.

Mr. gandbrook's injuries consist of severe abrasions and bruising to the face, with a suspected fracture of a bone near the left eye. His condition is satisfactory.

At the spot where he was assaulted and robbed detectives found portions of a broken beer bottle.

The two suspects who are held in custody by the police on a charge of robbery with violence are Cecil John Norris (20), a labourer, and Walter Raymond Green (21), a farm hand. Both will appear in the Police Court to-morrow morning.