Impudence of London Motor Bandits

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7200, 24 April 1930, Page 10

Impudence of London Motor Bandits

RISKY TRICKS DARING OPERATIONS IN CITY A new type of motor bandit has appeared in the streets of London. His methods of operation arc simple. In thoroughfares where traffic is congested, causing vehicles to move slowly, he waits for a car of which the solo occupant is a woman. Mounting the running board, he opens the door and asks for a lift. This being refused, the man in a hectoring manner demands money. Two typical cases, both of which occurred 3u broad daylight, were recently reported. While motoring along a crowded thoroughfaro near the Kennington Oval a woman was stopped by a man, who asked to be taken to the AUctoria railway station. She explained that she was not going in that direction. Thereupon tho man said that he had no money, and that if she would not drive him there, she must give him money. As no policeman was near, she offered the man sixpence, which she estimated would be the taxi fare to Victoria. “That is no good to mo,” declared the man, with a threat. “I want ten shillings at least.’’ At that moment the traffic was released and the woman drove on, intending to call the first policeman she saw. The sixpence fell to tho floor of the ear. Apparently realising the possibility of being caught, this new type of bandit picked up the coin and threw it in the lady’s face, afterwards jumping out of the car and disappearing among the people on the pavement. The second case occurred at the busy crossing on the north side of Vauxhall bridge. Having been held up, tho traffic was actually on the move when a man went up to a car in which a woman was alone and pointed to one of the wheels. Thinking that something was wrong, the woman slowed down, and instantly the man jumped on to tho running board. Ho asked to be given a lift, opening the door as ho did so. This was emphatically refused and the woman slammed the door, at the saino time rapidly accelerating. The man leapt off, making no further attempt at molestation.