Daring Bank Robbery In Chauffeur-Driven Car

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28541, 21 March 1958, Page 11

Daring Bank Robbery In Chauffeur-Driven Car

(Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 20.

A young man hired an expensive saloon car with a chauffeur yesterday to make a daring bank Jobbery, according to London newspapers. The “News Chronicle’’ said the car had waited outside the Lloyds Bank at Cranbrook, Kent, while the youth went inside. After 10 minutes the youth had come out of the bank and had /been driven •way. The driver nad not known that during those 10 minutes the bank had been robbed of £2274, said the “News Chronicle.’’ Inside the bank the youth had asked politely to see the manager. Mr Leonard G. Hopkins. Within seconds, Mr Hopkins •nd four of his staff were facing

a revolver. The youth began stuffing wads of notes into his bag.

The manager and staff had been warned that shooting would start if alarm bells were rung, it said. Persons who walked into the bank during the raid were lined up against the wall. But the gunman had lost his nerve when told that if he went into the strong room an alarm bell would ring. At that he had hurried out of the bank.

One of the bank officials had spotted the car’s number as it left, said the “News Chronicle.” Later a man had been detained and would appear in court today charged with the theft, the “Daily Herald” reported. The chauffeur had been traced but not detained.