MOTOR BANDITS' TRICKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20538, 12 April 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

MOTOR BANDITS' TRICKS

EXAMPLES OF IMPUDENCE.

OPERATIONS IN LONDON,

WOMEN DRIVERS HELD UP

A new type of motor bandit has appeared in the streets of London. His methods of operation are simple. In thoroughfares where traffic is congested, causing vehicles to move slowly, he waits for a car of which the sole occupant is a woman. Mounting the running board, he opens the doors and asks for a lift. This being refused, the man in a hectoring manner demands money. Two typical cases, holli of which occurred in broad daylight, were recently reported. While motoring along a crowded thoroughfare near the Kennington Oval a woman was stopped by a man, who asked to he taken to the Victoria railway station. She explained that she was not going in that direction. Thereupon the man said that ho had no money, and that if she would not drive him.there, she must give him money. As 110 policeman was near, she offered the man sixpence, which she estimated would ho the taxi fare to Victoria. " That is no good to me," declared tlie man, with a throat. " I want ten shillings at least " At that moment the t it. Tic was released, and the woman drove on, intending to call the first policeman she saw. The sixpence fell on the floor of the car. Apparently realising the possibility of being caught, this, new typo of bandit picked up the. coin and threw it in tiro .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, the traffic was actually on tho 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 the running board. He asked to be given a lift, opening- the door as he did so. This was emphatically refused, and the. woman slauimed the door, at the same time rapidly accelerating. The man leapt off. making no further attempt at molestation.