ARMED HOLDUP IN DUNEDIN

Southland Times, Issue 23727, 27 January 1939, Page 6

ARMED HOLDUP IN DUNEDIN

ATTEMPT AT PETROL STATION REVOLVER THRUST IN ATTENDANT’S BACK 7 (Special to The Times). DUNEDIN, January 26. A sensational armed hold-up which was foiled by the resourcefulness of the intended victim occurred just before midnight tonight at the Safety Parking and Petrol Station 'in Moray Place in the middle of the city. The feel of a revolver pressed sharply in the small of his back and the curt order to “stick ’em up” were the first warnings that Mr James Todd, night attendant at the station, had that a hold-up was being attempted, but he turned round and grappled with the man and when the latter saw that he could not accomplish his purpose of getting the contents of the till he dashed off and escaped. The police were advised immediately but in spite of a thorough search no arrest had been made up till an early hour in the morning.

Mr Todd said that about 11.35 p.m. a young man went into the station by the entrance opposite First Church and asked whether a breakdown van was available as a car had broken down at Ravensboume. He was told that the van was there hut it would ,be necessary to telephone a man to come to the station to drive it. There were one or two others about the station and while the man stood about apparently waiting until the driver of the van arrived, Mr Todd went into the office, a small room about six feet by four feet to make some entries in a book.

“Stick ’em up. I want the till,” he heard from behind him as he bent over the desk, and at the same time something hard was pressed against his back.

“You won’t get the till,” Mr Todd shouted. And as he turned he saw the man was armed with a revolver; He grasped it with his left hand as the other man pressed the trigger but the gun did not discharge, and as the man saw his purpose was foiled he wrenched the gun from Mr Todd’s hand and dashed off, narrowly escaping falling over a bumper bar of a parked car. Just then two men walked into the station and Mr Todd called to them to stop his assailant but the man had gone before they realized what had happened. He was last seen running down Burlington street. Mr Todd whose only injury was a cut in the left hand caused by the sight of the revolver when it was wrenched from his hand, said that the man was young and of medium height and was wearing spectacles.

YOUNG MAN’S ATTEMPT TO ROB HOUSE

(United Press Association)

WELLINGTON, January 27,

Rushing at Mr W. F. Curie in his home in Wellington South this afternoon and knocking him down, a young man who had evidently attempted to rob the house, escaped. Mr Curie had just returned to his home with his brother, Mr A. L. Curie, when he encountered the young man. When Mr Curie challenged the intruder he was knocked down. ,

Entry was gained- by forcing two doors at the fear of the house. As far as could be ascertained nothing was stolen.