COLOUR BOMBS

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1929, Page 12

COLOUR BOMBS

CHECK TO MOTOR THIEVES SUGGESTION. FOR LONDON POLICE. “BOBBIES” WOULD MARK QUARRY. Again the suggestion is being discussed hotly that London “bobbies” should be -armed —but not with pistols. The latest weapon suggested is the colour bomb. - . - - This new infernal’ machine, - which; it is thought, will-enable the police to deal more effectively with “smash and grab” thieves in., automobiles,, is- being ex? amined by Scotland. Yanl. ■ authorities; who were- aproached- Ty» the : patentees, Mayfair Enterprises, Ltd. If this proposal should be approved; the policeman of the-, future will have the appearance of an anarchist, for he wotild„ wear attached to-his belt & small black pouch containing a thin metal, ball resembling the “cylindrical object” which figures in most repi»U»of bomb "outrages.. .’ .. ■ J ' ' _ Tlie ball, is approximately the .size, df a tennis, ball, hollow, and is; made oflight metal, compressed paper or other; suitable substance. It would .be filledwith a liquid described -; as ■ “viscous, quick-drying, and luminous.?-.: : , - Tho ball could be thrown,; and on striking’ the bandit’s car it spreading a penetrating odourjarid' spattering the car with a. vivid; enamel: • • Culprits would be marked until the paint could be removed. This is how the plan would work r~ A policeman is just ' around the corner when motor bandits throw a brick through a jeweller’s window; snatch a tray of rings, and rush back to theircar* The policeman, hearing the noise, drops the bomb out of the- pouch by. drawing a spring clip, dashes up; *and hurls it. The dilemma of a marked car in a traffic jam can be imagined. Not only would it commend itself to every, policeman for arrest, but the publio could join in a new road game—spotting the bandit. It s suggested, too, that these bombs would prove a very valuable addition to the stock of jewellers of the West End. What would happen when the colour bomb hits the wrong car remains to be seen.