200 IN MAN HUNT

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19451, 15 December 1934, Page 14 (Supplement)

200 IN MAN HUNT

Two smash-and-grab raids which took place In London last month were remarkable, one because a new and very ingenious technique was employed and the other because it was followed by an exciting man-hunt for hair a mile through the West End. The latter raid took place at Messrs Chapman’s, jewellers, at the Corner of Leicester Place and Coventry Street, while the pavomonl was thronged with people. A handful of Jewellery was taken, inoluding a platinum and diamond bracelet and several gold and diamond rings. Immediately after the raid about 200 homeward-bound City workers 'and several policemen dashed in pursuit of u man who was seen to run off down Leicester Place. The chase went down Lisle Street Into Ward oil r Street and across Shaftesbury Avenue. Police added to the cries of “Stop thief" with shrill blasts on their whistles. PCople standing In am early queue at the Lyric Theatre* and others outside the TrocrLdcro saw the hunt dash into 1 Great Windmill Street, whence it went near Ham-Yard’. Later, it is understood, a man accompanied officers to Vine Street police station. The raid In which the new tech-

Smash--and-Grab Raids in London. / Chase in the West End.

nique was employed was in the early morning at the shop of Messrs Charles Packer and Co., Ltd.* Regent Street, which is nearly -opposite a courtyard leading down to Vine Street Police Station. Mr R. C. Cooke, the manager,of the shop, told a reporter afterwards: “ The raiders topk 23 watches, some of gold and platinum. “The’ opening between the steel bars of the grille is so small that they must have taken put each watch separately, possibly with some kind of tongs. "This must have taken some little time, and yet nobody seems to have soon the men at Work or heard the crash of glass, “ The whole thing Is very mysterious. I should think that several men shielded the man who removed the watches.” ‘ Mr J. Ilorwich, a member of a London property firm, -on arriving at his borne in Hampstead, found a number of windows broken, and stibsequently reported to Hie ’ police that jewels, valued at more than £IOOO, had been stolen.

The Ihicf or thieves had ransacked the bedroom, and in addition to the jewellery, some valuable furs belonging to Mrs Horwich were missing.