MAN ESCAPES WITH £800

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29240, 25 June 1960, Page 13

MAN ESCAPES WITH £800

Locked Manager In Strongroom

(Rec. 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 24 Armed with a stiletto and a silver pistol, a bandit locked two men in a strongroom and escaped with £BOO at Parramatta, west Sydney, today. It was 50 minutes before the knockings of his victims attracted attention and they were released. The daring hold-up occurred soon after noon at the office of Catt and Goldsmith, timber and iron merchants. The firm’s accountant. Cecil Nolan, was in his office when a man appeared brandishing a pistol in one hand and a stiletto in the other. He forced Mr Nolan against a wall and said: "I want some money." At that moment, the secretary of the company, Mr Arthur Dellit, walked into the office. He too was immediately bailed up at knife and gunpoint. The bandit then took about £BOO in cash and forced both men into the strongroom, closing the door after them. An hour later, an employee entered the office, heard knocking and traced it to the strongroom, from where he released Messrs Nolan and Dellit.

Parramatta police were immediately informed and wireless patrol cars were rushed to the area, but no trace of the thief was found.