DARING ROBBERY AT THEATRE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 230, 28 September 1931, Page 8

DARING ROBBERY AT THEATRE.

Man Threw Pepper in Face of Attendant at Box.

ESCAPED WITH BUNDLE OF NOTES.

(Special to the “ Star.”} AUCKLAND, September 28. A SENSATIONAL ROBBERY was committed at the ticket box of the Strand Theatre on Saturday evening when a man, after throwing pepper in the face of a woman cashier who was counting the evening’s takings, seized a pile of notes before the woman could prevent him and ran swiftly across Queen Street. Very few people were in the vicinity at the time, and the thief escaped.

The cashier, Miss Eileen Trotter, was adding up notes and silver taken during the evening when a man approached the ticket box at 8.45 o’clock. The man, who appeared to be forty years old, stepped up to the ticket box and asked: “Is it too late for the show?” Miss Trotter told him that he could still obtain admission, and the man said: “ Give me a shilling ticket.” Miss Trotter handed the ticket to the man, who fumbled in his pocket as if to obtain money. Then suddenly he

whipped out a matchbox full of pepper, which he threw in Miss Trotter’s eyes. Before the woman realised what had happened the thief had snatched the nearest pile of notes, totalling over £l6. While Miss Trotter, blinded by the pepper, was calling for help and attempting to find her way out of the box the man darted across the pavement and through the traffic in Queen Street. In his haste the man dropped a £5 note, but he escaped after a good chase by theatre attendants.