SYDNEY'S CRIME WAVE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9811, 12 June 1914, Page 5

SYDNEY'S CRIME WAVE.

ACTIVITY AMONG DESPERATE CROOKS. NUMBER OF SUSPECTS APPREHENDED. POLICE WARN BUSINESS MEN. (Bi Elbctbic Tbliqbaph—Cqptbiqm.) IPs* Pubs Assocutiom.i SYDNEY, June 11. The police do not favour the suggestion that the sensational robbery of £3300 by motor robbers was the work of foreign criminals. It appears that the robbery was planned a month ago, the plans failed, and the thieves hid in wait for a favourable opportunity. The chauffeur of the 6tolen car states that a man accosted him and invited him to have a drink. He entered the bar, and while away the car was stolen. The fact that the machine is .of the Moline make, and j there are only three in Sydney, and has peculiarities of mechanism, shows that the bandits are motor experts. The same car was stolen at the same spot a few weeks ago. The police think the thieves are identical with those connected with the present outrage. When the robbers deserted the car in front of a Chinese cabinetmaker's shop in Bulwarra lane nobody appears to have seen them disappear. Robert Geohegan has been arrested in connection with the robbery, and was before the Magistrate. The police asked for a remand for identification purposes, and he was allowed bail. A number of others have been apprehended on suspicion of aiding and abetting. When the police recovered the car they found therein a revolver loaded with five cartridges, from which the bullets h'u been removed nnd cayenne pepper substituted. The press state that the repeated occurrence of sensational crimes and the escape of the criminals gives a natural impression abroad that police protection is insufficient. It is understood that provision will be mare on the next Estimates to permit raising the strength of the force to meet immediate requirements. The police have issued a warning to business men handling large sums to guard the money carefully. The police state that there is renewed activity among the desperate element of "crooks." and whenever a big outrage has successfully concluded it is invariably followed by a series of crimes in other parts. Two criminals made arrangements last week to hold up a sawmill pay-clerk on the outskirts of the city. They engaged motor cycles for the purpose, but the police were inform*';.! and the plot was frustrated. The "crook>" are still tinder surveillance. Four men are watching ev«-ry train from Sydney for the Eveleign suspects. The men apprehended for the robbery are Arthur Tatham. the chauffeur of the stolen ear, and Norman Twiss. who was carrying The cash-box from the cab when he was held up by the robber. Both were detained yesterday, and, after Iv.'insr questioned, were released, but they were re-arrested to-day.

THE THIRD DEGREE. WORKMEN LOSE NOTHING. Received June 12. 9 a.m. SYDNEY, June 12. The police subjected the arrestees to the third degree It is understood that, the numbers of tho missing notes are not known. The missing money was replaced and the EveleighWorkmen received their tvages only a few minutes late.