BIG JEWEL HAUL

Evening Star, Issue 26029, 18 February 1947, Page 7

BIG JEWEL HAUL

SYDNEY SHOP ROBEED ARMED BANDIT’S CAREFUL PREPARATIONS' (Rec. 8 a.m.) . _ SYDNEY, February 17., An armed man held, up Messrs Fairfax and Roberts’s jewellery shop in Hunter street, Sydney, about 2.45 p.m. to-day, and escaped in a taxi with a quantity of jewellery. A preliminary cheek of the items stolen reveals that their value is about £8,500. The bandit, who was armed with a Browning automatic pistol, disappeared down George street in a taxi, while all available wireless police patrol cars converged on the shop.' After an intensive chase, the police finally found the taxi abandoned. Included in the haul were a diamond and emerald bracelet valued at £2,750, a diamond brooch valued at £l,lOO, a diamond bracelet-wrist watch worth £I,OOO, an emerald ring worth £950, a pearl necklace at £BOO, a brooch at £2OO, and a large number of sapphire and diamond fings. PREVIOUS VISITS. The bandit had been visiting the shop periodically during the last few weeks. On' his first visit about five weeks ago he asked to be shown some jewellery. He said he was going to America, and had about £4,000 with which to buy diamonds to take with him. He called at the shop to-day about 2.15 <p.m., and was attended, by Mr H. Smith. “ l got out the jewellery,” said Mr Smith, “ and the man began selecting various rings and other articles. .Suddenly I looked up, and saw an automatic pistol pointing at me. The bandit said: ‘ Don’t move or you’ll cop it.’ He then scooped up the loose jewellery from the pad, and, still pointing the .gun, raced through the doorway. I chased the man, who got into a taxi outside the door and drove off quickly.’’ '

The taxi driver told this story: “ I was hired by a man outside St: James’ underground station, and told to drive to Fairfax, Roberts. I did not suspect anything, and waited for him to come out. Suddenly he rushed out, and jumped in. beside me y He poked a revolver in my ribs, and said: ‘Go for your life.’ . He kept the revolver poked in my ribs, and-ordered, me to. drive to St. James’ station. When we arrived there he forced two £5 notes into my hands, and said ‘ Just forget you ever saw me.’ The bandit then jumped from the car and bolted.” ; The taxi driver said he then reported this experience to the nearest police station. •

GREENGROCER’S HOME ROBBED, ' Another in the latest series of large- ® scale' robberies which have netted thieves, many thousands of pounds in 10 days, occurred in the suburb of Bankstown, when thieves stole £2,115 in cash, the property of a greengrocer. . . The victim kept about £I,BOO in a suit case on top of a wardrobe in his home, and hid the remaining ’ money beneath clothing in the' wardrobe and in an apron pocket,; The thieves ransacked the house, and left all the lights on .when they made their escape. They apparently entered by means of a duplicate key, and enjoyed a bottle of beer before starting the search.