MELBOURNE HOLD-UPS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1073, 21 July 1924, Page 12

MELBOURNE HOLD-UPS.

A GRIM GANG. ‘‘MOVE AND YOU’LL BE SHOT.” MELBOURNE, July 5. “If you move you’ll be shot!” With threats such as this masked and armed bandits carried out four hold-ups in all during last night—two at St. Kilda beforo 8 p.m., and others at Kew and I’arkvillo in the late hours of the night and tho early hours of this morning. Included in tho victims was George Macandie, secretary to the Naval Board. Ho was robbed of £5 in Sackvillo street, Kew. When on his way home three men sprang upon him. One pointed a revolver into liis face, while tho others hold his arms. They told him that if he moved he woifld have to take tho consequences. They then went through his pockets.

Tho bandits dealt similarly with other victims, springing upon them at lonely spots, and the fact that robberies occurred at suburbs so far apart, and that two at St. Kilda happened with so small an interval between them, suggests that (ho bandits had a motor ear. They were three in number, so the victims all declared.

The police will have difficulty In effecting arrests, as none of the victims was able to give a detailed description of the robbers.

George Manley, a clerk, of East St. Kilda, was the first victim. He was turning off Alma road, on his way homo, at •7.15 p.m., when, front the shadows of the trees, three men, with their faces covered by handkerchiefs, appeared. One had a revolver which ho pointed at Manley, telling him that if ho moved he would he shot. Manley had no time to make a fight of it, for he was quickly hold. Tho men went through his pockets, and all the while the revolver was held menacingly at him. The robbers took ids watch and chain, and a few shillings in cash.

On his release, Manley promptly rang the police.

RUSHED FROM BEHIND,

No sooner had the police received Manley's message than a message came through from West St. Kilda that another crime of a similar nature had been carried out there. Herbert Osborne Muthews, an engineer, of Canterbury road, Middle Park, was on his way to the St. Kilda railway station, when at Cowderoy street there was a ru>h of men behind him, and Matthews found himself embraced tightly. A revolver was pressed to his ribs. His pockets were then rifled, and all his money taken. This amounted to £ll 10s in notes . and silver. His watch and chain were also taken. The last victim was Herbert J. Roberts, of Gipps street, East Melbourne. He was robbed at Parkville. He was driving a ear along Royal Parade at, 12.10, when three men hailed him from the footpath. Roberts, thinking that they were wanting a lift, stopned the car. He was immediately confronted with a revolver. The booty was small. The thieves obtained only a watch and chain. One of them, it is alleged, struck Roberts a blow'. Senior-Detective Piggott considers himself unlucky in not having boon right on tho spot when the first robbery occurred. He was in the vicinity, and could not have been more than 200 yards away. The robbers worked so quietly, however, that he did not know that anything untoward had happened till lie reached the police station.