SYDNEY CRIMES ON THE INCREASE

Grey River Argus, 21 May 1947, Page 8

SYDNEY CRIMES ON THE INCREASE

SYDNEY, May 19.

A “wave” of violent crime gathered force overnight with a fatal shooting, a stabbing and two robberies. Last night 30 men, some with large sums of money in their pockets, were found drunk in the city and taken into protective custody. The police patrols are being further strengthened, according to the police, who say that quick arrests have been made in more than 90 per cent, of cases. A police spokesman said that recently four officers had been assaulted ‘in the execution of their duty.

A man was shot dead on the doorstep of his mother-in-law’s home in the suburb of Marrickville after he had quarrelled with his wife. The police later arrested a brother-in-law of the murdered man. The accused is aged 18. The police also took possession of a rifle. A cafe proprietor received facial wounds when three men attempted to wreck a cafe at Pyrmont. He was knocked to the ground and, when he seized an iron bar, one assailant attacked him with a knife. Three men were later arrested. When a thief snatched a handbag from a table in her home a 70-year-nld woman lost £2OO. The thief called at the house and asked for a glass of water. While the woman was getting it, he snatched the bag and ran.

Another man who stole a cashbox, containing £lO, from an office at Chippendale, threw the unopened box away when he was pursued by an employee.