THIEVES PUT UP SMOKE SCREEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18008, 19 November 1926, Page 12

THIEVES PUT UP SMOKE SCREEN.

EXPLODE BOMBS, USE REVOLVERS, WHILE £SOOO JEWELLERY IS TAKEN. (Special to the “ Star.") BERLIN, September 26.. Ironically coinciding with the opening here of the international exhibition portraying every branch of modern criminal investigation, a crime was committed far more dramatic and thrilling than any of those which at the very moment were being “reconstructed” within the exhibition halls. For a few tense minutes Wild West conditions reigned in the West End. In the broad daylight of early afternoon two men entered a jeweller’s shop in the most fashionable street, plundered the window of its diamonds and pearls, exploded smoke bombs as a screen, rushed through thronged streets with revolvers levelled at all who stood in their way, and made good their escape. While one of the bandits simply vanished in the crowd, the other sought immediate refuge in the Berlin equivalent of “Selfridge’s.” Business was at its height, and the robber raced through the various departments while shoppers and assistants took cover from his menacing revolver. DETONATED BOMBS. Telephonic alarm brought to the scene in motor lorries a “flying squad” of armed detectives and a large force of police, who quickly locked all entrances and formed a cordon around the stores. The huge building was searched from the “basement bargain” department to the attics, but not a trace of the bandit was found, so the conclusion was drawn that he escaped through one of the back exits. Two girls were actually gazing into the jeweller’s window at the moment of the theft, and were amazed at seeing a man suddenly appear and swiftly strip the shelves of their treasures. There followed the detonation of the bombs and a great cloud of smoke, causing people on the pavements to flee for shelter in the belief that the shop was the scene of an explosion of The girls, the only ones knowing what had really happened, pluckily followed one of the robbers, * crying: “Stop thief! ” and ceased the pursuit only when the man, turning at the entrance to the stores, pointed a revolver at them. The bandits fired shots into the air while racing through the street, and so intensified the panic that enabled them to get away. Last night the police broadcast a description of the men with an offer of £SOO reward. They also conducted a great “round-up” of all Berlin haunts of international criminals, and posted detectives at the railway stations to examine possible suspects. So far, however, there is not the slightest clue to the perpetrators of a crime unprecedented here for its combination of daring and ingenious planning. The value of the stolen jewels is more* than £SOOO.