Flash Thieves in an Automobile.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 8, 22 February 1908, Page 41

Flash Thieves in an Automobile.

Two swagger thieves, who went about in an automobile like rich nabobs, dressed in Oriental fashion, and robbed a number of Parisian jewellers in open daylight, have just been caught at their tricks and arrested. One of them usually wore a fez and coat called “stambouline." nad the other disguised himself as an Arab. As a rule they drove up in great style to the door of some jeweller, and asked to see a number of precious objects, or anything that was most valuable in the shop, and would leave after giving an important order, saying they were presents for friends in Cairo. One of them had a trick of placing a spectacle-case on the counter alongside some precious pearls or diamonds, and, pretending to be nearsighted. would, after a while, pick up his spectacle-case, together with the jewel. If the trick were noticed he would make the most polite apologies, and explain that it was a mistake, and if the dealer did not notice it he would simply be minus the jewel after the visitors had left. In this way they carried oil' a considerable stock-in-trade, and their orders could never be delivered, as they invariably gave a false address. © © ©