VERY CLEVER THEFT

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1931, Page 4

VERY CLEVER THEFT

police; mystified. (Australian Press Association.) SYDNEY, May 1The postal officials and detectives: are convinced that the mailbag robbery was carried out by someone conversant with postal procedure, aided by an accomplice. The mailbag, which contained £IO,OOO, was registered by the Commonwealth Bank and was conveyed to the station by an armed guard. Tt was then transferred to a steel cubicle in the guard’s van. This is a customary weekly practice. Tlia guards changed shifts at GotdImrn, half way to Canberra, and w'-’t flip train reached the Federal Capital, it was found that the mailbag wiHi the bank notes had been .substituted by one containing stone and pnp"r. t* .Li .-.nt .oil a niH tho

Til.* guards changed shifts at GonlI.nrn, half way to Canberra, and w>'"’i flip train reached the Federal Capital, it was found that the mailbag wdh the bank notes had been substituted by one containing stone and pap"r. The police do not rule out The theory that the mailbag was substituted before the train left Sydney last

night. _ , The Commonwealth Baitk is iikp'Unified against any loss. It has the records and numbers of all of the stolen banknotes, which have b p “ n published in the pros - The public servants' salaries will be paid at H”berrn by ehequo,' instead of in notes. CVNBKHBA. M»y 1. The officials are reticent regarding fhe mail robbery, hut they admit that those concerned in it wore eyidoiM ” fully acquainted with the methods transferring from Sydney to Canberra. NEW PHASE OF ALLEGED THEFT. SYDNEY, May 2. Tf hnc been discovered that the thousand pounds worth of five pound notes, reported stolen, between Sydnev ard Canberra yesterday, were included j„ P Intch forwarded to the Wollnrnong branch of the Commonwealth Bank This discovery oemis up a new hne of investi'/iflioii. Unless Jhere brig been a clerical error, it- proves conclusively that £IO.OOO intended for Canberra never left Sydney. A man. at YY ollongong drew sev'wi fivers from the Bank and found the numbers thereon corresponded with some of those reported stolon.