PAY-ROLL THEFT

Hokitika Guardian, 7 November 1936, Page 6

PAY-ROLL THEFT

MASKED GUNMEN IN VICTORIA MELBOURNE, November 5. Chased by three armed and maskei bandits, a payroll escort' .was robbed 9 1 £3O in silver, in the street to-day, 'bul crammed £4OO in notes into hb pockets. . ... y’ The escort—George Baker', secretarj of Wilson Bros. Pty., Ltd:, canistei | manufacturers, of ‘North . Melbonyiie-f-I leapt from his car as., he reacl||d "the I door of the firm’s /• • The stolen money was in a large bag, which held the whole of .the firm’s payroll of £430 when Baker and another 'man lefi/the-bank. >; " : '|- After grabbing the bag from Baker as he entered the factory, the bandits escaped in a stolen ! taking W'ith them .the kgys of .Baker’s ear to prevent him, giving chase ifnmediately. Detectives, and .wireless patrol police, who were on the - scene ayitlUji minutes of the holdr-up,: ! l.i^yeV l ij3'?P‘wp e d the bandits <as,thr.ge:men e car c ried out nigny darihgi.holdrups in Melbourne and suburbs' within the last. 18 months. Baker was accompanied in the car by another employee of the firm. The first intimation athe pair had that they were being followed by bandits was when another car attempted to /force them into the 'kerb, a few hundreds yards from the firm’s factory. / ; > The men, however, managed to keep always a few yards .. ahead of their pursuers, and were not overtaken until they were pulling up at-the premises. . . Baker then made his dash few safety, having crammed the notes, into his .pocket, and had almost reached the door when one of the gunmen told him to drop the bag, or he, would shoot. :> Baker turned and , flung the hag of, silver, at the man’s feet. Thinking that the heavy bag held the 'whole pay-roll, the men then made off.