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 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 stocking 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.