DARING BANK ROBBER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18942, 13 February 1925, Page 6

DARING BANK ROBBER.

■ A TELLER " HELD UP." THIEF TAKES BANK NOTES. INCIDENT IN MELBOURNE. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] SYDNEY. Feb. 6. Melbourne has just provided another sensational bank robbery. A graphic story of a hold-up at the (,'aulfield branch of the Commercial Bank was told to the police by the teller, William Pinniger. He said that a few minutes before closing time a man entered the bank, and, levelling a revolver at him, ordered him into another room and locked the door. The armed intruder, said Mr. Pinniger, then proceeded to ransack the bank, and got away with £lßl and a revolver. Mr. Pinniger gave the alarm, and half a dozen detectives rushed to the bank. Mr. Pinniger went with the detectives to the Melvern branch of the bank, where he made a written statement as follows: "I was making up the cash when I heard the command: 'Put your hands up!' I looked up and saw a shout, slight mail standing near the doorway, pointing a revolver at me. He again commanded: Put your hands up, quick!' I obeyed. "Near me was tho automatic pistol supplied by the bank, but I had no chance to use it. The man seemed determined to shoot if I made any move at all. "I did not rotice his face very well, except that he was clean-shaven aud had a sharp nose. He was wearing a blue suit., a black felt hat, and black boots. He was not masked. "As I stood with my hands up the man tried to close the door with his foot, but the door is held fully open during bank hours by a bolt and padlock. When he found that the door would not close he told me to walk round from behind the counter and close the door, I had no option, and I picked up the key and the padlock and locked the door. The robber then made mc march with my hands up through the back room to the outhouse. He closed the door on me and returned to the front room of the agency. "I waited until I heard the front door cioso and then I came out of tho outhouse. I rushed to the door and opened it. but could see no one in the streetI then went to the counter and discovered that £lßl in notes had been f taken and the silver and copper left. The bank s automatic, pistol was also gone.