MAIL VAN ROBBERY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19905, 27 September 1926, Page 9

MAIL VAN ROBBERY

HATTON GARDEN DIAMONDS. VALUABLE HAUL SECURED. (Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, September 26. (Received Sept. 27, at 11.50 p.m.) A most daring mail van robbery, involving an unknown but certainly a large amount in diamonds and cheques, occurred in Hatton Garden, the diamond sentre of the world. The van called at the post office, iu Hatton Garden, where a postman took the bags containing the registered letters and packages and placed them in a van which was then driven to the Smithfield Post Office. Here the postman signed for a further consignment. He returned to the street, where he was astounded to find that the van and driver had disappeared. The police stations throughout London were immediately warned, and the whole force was on the look-out. The van was found in a quiet street off Gosswell road, but the mailbags were gone. It has been ascertained that the bags were transferred to a private car, which drove off rapidly. The packages represented practically the whole of the week-end eorrespondcnc of Hatton Garden. The usual practice of Hatton Garden merchants is to despatch stones of groat value at the week-end. The Daily Express says that the estimated value of the mailbags is at least £BO,OOO. The police were scouring London late into the night. The driver secured his post in recognition of his services durin gthe general strike.—A. and N.Z. Cable.