Third time ready

Press, 27 July 1976, Page 3

Third time ready

, PA Auckland The postmistress at the Oratia post office, Mrs A. Couchman, believes she could get used to robberies if they keep on “improvi ing.” Nine years ago she was | robbed at gun point and ’ yesterday morning she was robbed again, but by two unarmed men. If the robberies con- ; tinued to “improve,’’ said I Mrs Couchman. next time one unarmed man would I turn up. I If that happened the robber would have more I that just Mrs couchman to contend with —she plans I to take her German shepi herd dog to work with her ; from now on. i Shortly after 9.30 a.nt. 1 yesterday Mrs Couchman ' was alone in the tiny post I office at Oratia when two I men walked in with stock- ' ings over their heads. They vaulted the counter I and knocked her to the j ground, bound her hands I behind her back with a stocking, and tried unsuccessfully to gag her. “I was not co-operating and they were anything but nimble fingered,” said Mrs Couchman. About that time one of the robbers went to lock the door and bumped into a customer, Mrs O’Rourke. Mrs O’Rourke was gagged. The robbers took about $lOOO, mostly in cash, from the safe and fled. “It was a quick one this time, it took about five minutes,” said Mrs Couchman. Neither woman was injured. The police later arrested two men and charged them with aggravated robbery. One was aged 32 and the other 22, said Detective Sergeant J. C. Roberts, of the Henderson Criminal Investigation Branch. They will appear in the Auckland Magistrate’s Court this morning. Mr Roberts said some of the money had been recovered and inquiries were continuing.