ARMED HOLD-UP

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 February 1947, Page 8

ARMED HOLD-UP

f 8,500 WORTH OF JEWELLERY STOLEN A SYDNEY SENSATION SYDNEY, Feb. 18. An armed man held up the Fairfax and Roberts jeWellery shop in Hunter street,, Sydney, about 2.45 p.m. yesterday and escaped in a taxi with a quantity of jewellery. A preliminary check of the items stolen reA ? eals that their value is about £B5OO. The bandit, who was armed Avith a Browning automatic pistol, disappeared down George street in a taxi while all the available Avireless police patrol cars converged on the shop. Late last night four detectives with pistols draAvn raided a Darlinghurst flat and arrested Cecil John Rolls, aged 24, a dealer, in connection with the robbery. Accused in Court. Heavily guarded by police, Rolls Avas refused bail when he Avas charged at the Central Court Avith the armed theft of jeAvellery Avorth £B5OO from a city store yesterday. The police prosecutor said that none of the jewellery had been recovered, but the police believed there was no doubt Rolls Avas the man who held up the jewellery shop employee and stole the jewels. Counsel for accused said his eflent Avas pleading not guilty and had a perfect alibi. Accused was remanded Avithout bail. Included in the haul were a diamond and emerald bracelet valued at £2750, a diamond brooch valued at £llOO, a diamond bracelet wrist watch valued at £lOOO, an emerald ring valued at £950, a pearl necklace valued at £BOO, a brooch valued at £2OO, and a large number of

sapphire and diamond rings. 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 £4OOO with which to buy diamonds to take Avith him. Other Robberies. In Sydney’s second big jeAvel robbery Avithin 12 hours, thieves broke into a Bellevue Hill home and stole £7OO worth of jeAvellery, including rings and a diamond and Avhite gold Avatch. Returning home early this morning, the owner found the front door open and the house in. a state of disorder. , . The latest of a series of large-scale robberies occurred in the suburb ol Bankstown, when thieves stole £2115 in cash, the property of a greengrocer. The victim kept about £lBOO in a suitcase on top of a wardrobe in his home, and hid the remaining money beneath clothing in a Avardrobe and in his apron pocket.