MOTOR BANDITS

Grey River Argus, 11 August 1931, Page 5

MOTOR BANDITS

ANOTHER HOLD-UP i At Wellington Garage ‘ WILL POLICE CATCH THEM? (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 10. Two armed men held up Mr William Piere, at a petrol station, at Sunshine Bay at Eastbourne early tonight. The bandits secured £5 18s fid, and they then cut the telephon# wires at 'the garage to delay an alarm being ’ given. The bandits, apparently, had a car waiting round one of the many curves' on fhe road, and after collecting their lo6t, disappeared in the darkness. | Mr Piere hurried to- tho nearest telephone, some distance away, and gave the alarm. i The road on which the robbery took place is a lonely one, and it comes to an end beyond Eastbourne, only a track continuing on to Pencarrow. At the Pot-One end the only exit from the road can be easily watched, and provided the police to-night get there in time, they would be able to intercept the robber’s car. It is feared, however, that by the time that the alarm was given and the police arrived, fhe robbers would have passed this point, and got away into the maze of streets at Petone, thence returning to the city. THE MIRAMAR AFFAIR. WELLINGTON, August 10. On the lonely road winding along the waterfront from tho Miramar Wharf to Seatoun two parties of mo-1 torists proceeding round tho bays early on Friday evening were held up and robbed by two, masked bandits armed with revolvers. The bandits had black masks covering their faces and were wearing very old clothing. The first car, which was held up between Miramar Wharf and Shelly Bay, contained two- men, who were relieved of some of their personal effects, but little money. While the bandits wore searching the two yoilng men, the other car, driven fry Mr H. P. Vaney, arrived on the scene. Before he realised what had happened ho was looking into tho muzzle of a revolver and hoard ani ordeh* to set cut of the car. He was then searched and his wife was called I upon to hand over her handbag. j Mr Vaney had a revolver thrust] into his stomach by the smaller of the two bandits, who went through his pockets and, then demanded Mrs Valley's purse. The taller of the - * two bandits, who appeared to be the loader, stood some distance away, keeping the party covered with his revolver. When tho first car had proceeded a short distance past the Mirarfiar Wharf the driver saw what he thought was the body of a man lying in the I middle of the road. As ho stopped the car and got out on to the road to see what was wrong a man with a revolver stopped out from the shadows and covered him. At the same time the “body” came to life, produced a revolver and joined his companion. The bandits then ordered the motorists to empty their pockets' and selected certain articles.