ROBBERS’ BOLD PLAN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 104, 2 April 1929, Page 11

ROBBERS’ BOLD PLAN.

RAID ON SCOTLAND YARD. POLICE FRUSTRATE ATTEMPT. Astonishing precautions, it is •stated, were adopted by Scotland Yard to ensure the safety of £12,000 impounded by the police in connection with the recent bribery charges against Police Seregarit Goddard. At one time fear of a raid on Scotland Yard itself, by a gang of armed thieves, was so great that four Flying Squad officers, specially selected for their courage and experience, kept guard in a locked room over the safe where the money was deposited. There was- a period during the investigation when, for two days, Scotland Yard had every reason to believe that an audacious attempt would be made” to steal the money. The alertness of the Criminal Investigation Department, however, and the soundness of its system of information made the attempt impracticable. , It was common knowledge that the £12,000 was being kept in a safe high up in the police building in 'Whitehall. The gang knew it, and they decided to make the boldest bid for-the booty that lias ever been made in the history of- the metropolitan police. Chief Constable Wensloy received information one Saturday afternoon that the raid was contemplated, and at once took steps to frustrate it. The banks were colsed, and it was impracticable to remove the money from the yard to another •. Four officers of the Flying Squad were detailed to form an armed guard, over the ■ safe during the week-end. They were provided with arms, locked in a room at Scotland Yard with the safe, and given explicit instructions to admit no one.

So great was the menace that these officers were ordered to defend the safe to the -bitter end if necessary. They were told that anyone: ’entering the room could bo treated as entering without permission. Guards of . uniformed policemen on the main entrance to the yard were doubled, and officers at Cannon Row, police station, which adjoins the yard, were instructed to keep, vigilant watch. These preparations were made without ostentation, but the raiders apparently received counter-information that the contemplated raid would prove unsuccessful. For two days and nights Scotland Yard watched and waited. On the following'- Monday morning the money was removed to a bank and the danger was averted. The thieves were merely concerned with the plunder, but Scotland Yard knew that notes contained in the safe were the most valuable evidence the authorities had against ex-Station Sergeant Goddard.