ATTEMPTED BANK ROBBERY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18095, 10 June 1924, Page 6

ATTEMPTED BANK ROBBERY.

BURGLARS USE GELIGNITE. (special to "thz FBJtsa.") AUCKLAND-, June 9. A most daring attempt to break open the strongroom door of the Union Bank of Australia was made last night between the hours of seven and ten o'clock when burglars succeeded in shattering the locks of the strongroom, but then failed to gain aooess. The Union Bajik of, Australia is situated at the cornet* of Queen and Victoria streets, and by climbing a gate in Victoria street the burglars nroce'e VI along a passageway used by the bank clerks until the baok door of the bank was reached. This door was wrencHed open with a ciowbar or jemmy and the thieves then proceeded to the sleeping quarters of those bank clerks who reside- on the premises. Tho clerks happened to be out and the beds were then stripped of their clothing, which was taken to the ground floor to where the strongroom is. Gelignite was then placed in the keyholo and the bedd ; used to deaden the report. The locks were, then shattered, but this did not open, the door of the safe and the thieves were frustrated. The contents of the safe were intact, and so far as is known nothing was attempted further than the attack on the door. It is considered the most daring effort at bank robbery made in Auckland for years. The matter was at onoe reported to the police and investigations are being made by the detectives. Another version of tho story gives fresh details. It appears that the; robbers must have spent many hours at work before' effecting an entrance to the bank buildings. As they worked their way in from adjacent preinisesi in order to get through to the bank, they had to chisel out a very strong lock from an equally strong door. This task entailed a great deal of patient effort, and skill Was : evidently used. 'lt is suggested that the men were well prepared and by no means amateurs. The explosion at the safe, which only damaged half the lock, was their undoing, for the two men sleeping on the bank premises were aroused by the noise "When the discovery was made; by the watchmen nothing was touched by them, with the result that when the police experts arrived on. the scene they w r ere able to secure several very good finger prints.