WHOLESALE ROBBERIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19687, 14 January 1926, Page 10

WHOLESALE ROBBERIES.

suspects rsr America. POLICE MAKE SEVERAL ARRESTS. The “round-up” of two alleged robber gangs members of ■which, it is claimed, have been concerned in thefts of jewellery valuec at mere than 250,000 dollars during the past three months, was accomplished on November 17 by the New York Police, following a six weeks' hunt, the story of which reads lik* a detective novel. In all, eight men wen captured, including one, Raymond Seeley, who is alleged to have been what is knowj as the “pathfinder” for the rest. Search is still going on for a third gang. .Neatly two months previously detective* came to the conclusion that the success ol robbers in locating men on the streets with wallets of precious stones was not accidental, and that ‘inside information” was being furnished to the thieves from the Maiden Lam district. Several detectives were detailed to watch the locality fox persons who did not seem to belong there, and after weeks of patient work a number were picked out. With, at first, little more than suspicion to \work on, the detectives continued their search, eventually noticing that Seeley, who had a jewellery business in Fifth Avenue, wa« frequently met by the men they were trailing. Slowly, but surely, connections were established between suspected robbers and dealers in Maiden Lane, who, it was believed, were disposing of the loot. Eventually three men in what had come to ho known as the “Broadway Utch” gang, were trailed in their motor by detectives in a police car. The latter read in the signs of nervousness in their quarry enough to convince them that the suspects were out on a job. Taking advantage of a block in the traffic the detectives ran their car alongside the one they were pursuing and faced the three with drawn revolvers. Arrests were made, quietly and without resistance.