MOTOR BANDITS' COUP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19081, 28 July 1925, Page 12

MOTOR BANDITS' COUP.

BANK CLERK RUN DOWN*

LONDON STREET ROBBERY*

GANG IN A FORD VAN*

A daring robbery by men in a motoroar who ran down a London bank clerk cycling from one branch to another and stolo from hhu a bag containing just over £IOOO, took place about nine o'clock ono morning in Juno, near Seven Kings' Station. Tho victim o£ the robbery was Mr. Gcorgo E. Assinder, who at the time wa:j cycJiug from Barclays Bank at Ilford to tho banlc'a branch at Goodmayes, with a hag containing tho money fastened to the carrier of his bicycle. The money was in Treasury and Bank of England notes, and \va3 required for tho day's business. As Mr. Assinder was passing tho railway station at Sovcn Kings ho hoard a motor vehicle approaching him at a fast pace from behind, and immediately found himself thrown into the gutter, having apparently been deliberately run down. " I found," said Mr. Assinder, in doscribing what took place, "that the vehicle which had run mo down was a Ford covered van, containing four men. Oue of tho men jumped down quickly and, seising tho leather bag, regained tho van, which was driven off at a rapid rate. It all happened in a few seconds, while I was mixed up with tho cyclo on tho ground, and before I could do anything tho men wcro gone. I was not hurt, except for a littlo grazing on tho arm and leg." There were many people in tho streets at tho time, and those who witnessed the outrago raised a huo and cry. A constable who was on duty in the High Road, a littlo distance from tho spot, saw tho motor-van coming toward him at a fast speed, and one oi tho occupants cutting the string fastening tho identification plate, which fell in tho roadway. Tho constable commandeered a private car that was passing and gave chase, but tho bandits had too long a start, and rapidly gaiued on their pursuer, who eventually had to relinquish his efforts to overtake tho car. Tho identification plato was picked up by a passing motorist. Later in tho day the leather bag that had contained the money was found empty by the roadside by two girls in Grove Road, Chadwell Heath. They handed the bag to tho polico. It had apparently been thrown from the car after its occupants had abstracted tho contents. There is mason to believe that the outrage was committed by men probably residing in the locality, who had made it their business to get acquainted with tho procedure adopted by the bank in conveying money to the branch establishment. Tho probability is that Mr. Assinder had been watched on several occasions.