The expensive shops in a famous arcade 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 head-
lights 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.