6. Smash-and-grab

The expensive shops in a famous arcade near Picaddily were just opening. At this time of the morning, the arcade was almost empty. Mr. Taylor, the owner of a jewelry 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 jewelery'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 windows. Chairs and tables were flying into the arcade. One of the thieves were struck by a heavy status, but he was too busy helping himself to diamonds to notice any pain. The raid was all over in three minutes, for the thieves scrambled into the car and it moved off at a fantastic speed. 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.