CAUGHT IN BANK

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1932, Page 6

CAUGHT IN BANK

MAN ARRESTED AT PATEA

PLUCKY ACTION BY MANAGER SEARCH IN DARK ROOMS INTRUDER IN A CUPBOARD Prompt and plucky action on the part of the manager of the Batea branch of the Bank of New Zealand resulted in an arrest on Saturday night under sensational circumstances. The manager, Mr. A. C. Thompson, after seeing the bank premises secure for the night, • went upstairs, Mrs. Thompson having already retired. The electric light was still burning. Mrs. Thompson asked her husband if he had heard any suspicious: sounds, remarking that she had. just heard slight sounds for which she could not account. A search revealed a man under the bed, he apparently having been in the room prior to Mrs. Thompson’s entry.Without informing Mrs.. Thompson of the presence of the intruder Mr. Thompson turned to a drawer to 'secure his revolver, hoping that the man under the bed was unaware that he was discovered. Guessing that his .presence was suspected the intruder dashed away and plunged headlong down the staircase into the gloom of the rooms bn the ground floor with Mr. Thompson a few feet 'behind him, calling on him. to stop and threatening, to shoot. SEARCH IN THE DARKNESS. Arriving on the ground floor Mr. Thompson commenced a search of the rooms— a, plucky procedure in th. dark- •< ness, as no opportunity to turn the switches had up to this moment occurred. As the bolts and locks on the outside doors take several seconds to ‘ unfasten, the manager was .confident the man was still in the building. Satisfying himself that such was the case he inspected each of the ground floor rooms in turn, being ■ prepared to return instantly to a- small boot cupboard under the stairs in which Mr. Thompson was confident the man was hiding. ' Repeated challenges to'&uf render and threats to shoot -induced no response and a grim vigil commenced, no sound coming from either side of the cupboard door as the manager listened for the slightest sound to 'betray the presence of the other. MANAGER SECURES AID. Convinced that the intruder had gone io ground in 'the hoot cupboard Mr. Thompson called on him to surreiider, threatening to shoot through the dqor if he did not. come out. An opportunity presenting • itself, Mr Thompson turned oil the lights in ’ the vicinity so that if the prisoner decided to make a break for liberty he would not have .the advantage of darkness. , (Being barefooted the manager was able to leave his coign of vantage to attract aid from outside and enlisted the support of Messrs G. Macken, -Hunger, and Watt. Apprising them of the situation Sir. Thompson • then.: called upon Constable Kelly. Tho Oupboa-rxi door was opened and the intruder was jfqund .'hiding behind theydoori:? He; Was'taken jto the kitchen and asked what he was doing. He asked Constable Kelly if ihe were the bank manager. The constable replied that he was.' The man then made a brief- statement and said he would go quietly. The man who is now in custody is about 25 .years of age. He .is we'll dressed.' His hat and overcoat were “planted” outside. He is a , stranger to Batea,