MAIL VAN ROBBERY

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10353, 27 September 1926, Page 5

MAIL VAN ROBBERY

DIAMONDS AND CHEQUES

Electric Telegrapli—Press Association

LONDON, September 26. lira most daring mail van robbery, involving an unknown, but certainly large amount in diamonds and cheques, occurred in Hatton Garden the diamond centre of the world. A contractors’ van called at the post office where a postman took containing registered letters and packages, and placed them in the van winch was then driven to Smithfield post office.

Here the postman signed for a further consignment and returned to tlie street, where he was astonished to find the van and the driver had disappeared.

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 Loss well road, but the mailbags were gone.

It has been ascertained that the bags were transferred to a private Cair ri IKI <^love rapidly. 1 ho- i packages represented practically the whole of tlie week-end correspondence of Hatton Garden. The usual practice of Hatton Garden merchants is to dispatch stones ot great value at the week-end. Ibo Daily Express savs the estimated value of the mailbags is at least £80,(Mil).

Mic police, were scouring London late last night. Tiie . driver secured liis (Hist in recognition of services during the general strike.