ROBBERY FOILED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 253, 20 September 1930, Page 8

ROBBERY FOILED.

MEN ESCAPE FROM CONSTABLE. Per .Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. Two men under arrest and under escort of a consfable made a successful dash for liberty at the doorway of the Taranaki Street police station at about half-past ten o’clock on Thursday evening. A stern chase ensued, but the wanted men were quicker of foot and soon disappeared under cover of darkness. Mr B. Sutherland, of Karori, received shortly after ten o’clock on Thursday evening a telephqne call from a person unknown. This person intimated that his shop in Courtenay Place would be broken into during the following hour. On receiving the information Mr Sutherland’s son immediately informed the police and then proceeded into town in his car. Meanwhile the manager, of the shop had been communicated with and he, in company with Mr, Sutherland, junr., and a police constable, made an inspection of the premises. There appeared to be no signs of the work of any. intruders, but while further inspection was being made .footsteps were heard in the lane behind the shop to which access is gained from Tory Street. Three men were seen to be there, and although they began to make off when they were aifare that their presence was noticed the eonstablo was well on the alert and secured two men, while the third made a successful escape. They were . not deprived of their liberty long, however, for a second and determined effort 'freed them from the constable’s power when almost at the police station. It was understood this evening that the wanted men had not been recaptured. it is difficult to account for the telephone call which apprised Mr Sutherland of the proposed robbery in his premises. N There are two theories which may account for it, both being fairly feasible. One is that one member of the gang of thieves may have turned traitor on his companions, and out of sheer spite or malice decided to inform Mr Sutherland of their plans. Or, alternatively,. it may have been a cunning ruse to lure Mr Sutherland away from his Karori residence, so that access could be gained to tho house while he was investigating the affair at Courtenay Place. The presence of the three men may have been merely accidental, and they may have had no intention of breaking into premises in the vicinity.