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 display. Two
of his assistants had been working busily since eight o'clock and had only just finished. Diamond
necklaces and rings had been bequtifully 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 home 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 stocking over their faces jumped out and 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.