The arcade near Piccadilly in which the expensive shops stand was almost empty on
the morning of the raid. Mr Taylor was admiring a new window display after his two
asistants had just finished work on it. Several minutes later, Mr. Taylor went back into
his shop. A large car with three thieves inside it suddenly stopped at the jewller's. One man stayed at the wheels while two others with black stockings over their faces jumped out. When the thieves smashed the window of the shop with iron bars, Mr. Taylor and
his staff tried to knock the thieves out with furniture. Although one of thieves was struck by a heavy statue, he was too busy helping himself to diamonds to notice any pain. The raid lasted for all over three minutes. Then jumping back into the car, the thieves drove off at tremendous speed. Though Mr. Taylor tried to prevent the car from moving off
with ashtrays and vases, the thieves got away with thousands of pounds worth of
diamonds.
