The expensive shops in a famous near Piccadilly were just opening. At this
time of the morning, the arcade was almost empty. Mr. Taylor, the owner of a
jewellery shop was admiring a new window display. Two of his assistants had
been working busily since eight o'clock and had only just finished. Diamond
necklaces and rings had been beautifully arranged on a background of black
velvet. After gazing at the display for several minutes, Mr. Taylor went back
into his shop.#
The silence was suddenly broken when a large car, with its headlights on and
its horn blaring, roared down the arcade. It came to a stop outside the
jeweller's. One man stayed at the wheel while two others with black stockings
over their faces jumped out and smashed the window of the shop with iron bars.
While this was going on, Mr. Taylor was upstairs. He and his staff began
throwing furniture out of the window. Chairs and tables went flying into the
arcade. One of the thieves was struck by a heavy statue, but he was too busy
helping himself to diamonds to notice any pain. The raid was all over in three
minutes, for the men scrambled back into the car and it moved off at a
fantastic speed. Just as it was leaving, Mr. Taylor rushed out and ran after
it throwing ashtrays and vases, but it was impossible to stop the thieves.
They had got away with thousands of pounds worth of diamonds.&