ARMED BANDITS

Otago Witness, Issue 4039, 11 August 1931, Page 28

ARMED BANDITS

THE MIRAMAR HOLD-UP A CAREFULLY-PLANNED ROBBERY DIFFICULTIES OF THE POLICE. WELLINGTON, Augnst 9. A special force of detectives is engaged in the. search for the robbers who held up two motor cars at Miramar on Friday night, but so far no clue has been discovered which may lead to the tracing of the bandits. As both men wore masks the task of identification may prove difficult. The firing of one shot from a holdup man’s revolver revealed that the robbery is the work of determined criminals. The shot was fired when one of the motorists flashed a torch. The bullet kicked up the dust on the road, the robber saying, “ The next one’ll go higher if there is any funny business.” The robbers bad apparently planned the affair very carefully, for they carried out their work without the slightest hesitation and made their escape in plenty of time.

The first car which was held up between the Miramar wharf and Shelly Bay, contained two men, who were relieved of gome personal effects but little or no money. When the car had proceeded a short distance past the Miramar wharf the driver saw what he thought was the body of a man lying in the middle of the road. 'As he stopped the car and got out to see what was wrong, a man with a revolver stepped out from the shadows and covered him. At the same time the “ body ” came to life, produced a revolver, and joined his companion. The bandits then ordered the motorists to empty their pockets and selected certain articles.

While the bandits were searching, another car, driven by Mr H. P. Vaney, of Miramar, arrived. Mr Vaney was with his wife and two young children. Before he realised quite what had happened he was looking into the muzzle of a revolver and heard an order to get out of the car. He was then searched, and his wife was called upon to hand over her handbag, which contained about £4.

Mr and Mrs Vaney said that soon after they had passed the Miramar wharf they saw a stationary car in the middle of the road with several men

standing near it. They pulled up behind the car and were surprised to’ see two of the men backing towards them, with two other men facing them. Suddenly, the two men who had had their backs to Mr Vaney's car swung round and covered them with revolvers. Almost at the same moment, one of the other men flashed a torch on one of the bandits, saying he would know him again anywhere if he saw him. At this the bandit replied with a shot.

The bandits, who Imd black masks covering their faces, and were wearing very old clothes, then ordered the two young men in the first car to drive on and turned their attention to the Vaney family. Mr Vaney had a revolver thrust into his stomach by the smaller of the two bandits, who went through his pockets. Mr Vaney was carrying nothing of any value. The bandit then turned to Mrs Vaney, demanded her purse, and collected all the money it contained. The taller of the two bandits, who appeared to be the leader, stood some distance away, keeping the party covered with his revolver.

Having completed the search, the bandits ordered the Vaneys back into their car and told them to drive in the

direction of Seatoun. Mr Vaney was unable to get the self-starter to work, and as he got out to crank the car the bandits, who had started to walk off in the direction of the Miramar wharf, swung round anti covered them with their guns. They said that if they did not get a move on they would put a shot through the car. Mr Vaney finally got the car going again and proceeded to Seatoun, where he telephoned the police. The first car had been driven to the Mount Crawford prison, whence a notification was also sent to the police.