The expensive shops in a famous arcade 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 display. Two of his
assistants had been working busily since eight o'clock and had only just finished. Diamond necklaces
and rings had 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. One man stayed at the
wheel and two others with black stocking over their faces jumped out and smashed the window of the
shop with iron bars. When 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 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 them. They had got away with thousands of pounds worth of
diamonds.