This silent news report shows the aftermath of a break-in and robbery at the premises of the Frederick J Malcomson jewellery shop on Belfast’s Chichester Street. The route the thieves took into the shop through an upper window is also shown.
The robbery was described in the contemporary press as one of the largest in Belfast for many years. The thieves were reported as having stolen £5,000 in jewellery and watches and also managed to take £200 in cash after blowing up the safe with explosives.
One quirk discovered when police investigated the robbery was that the criminals had also broken into a restaurant next door beforehand. They had broken in through the rear of the adjoining Thompson’s Restaurant on Arthur Street and helped themselves to a meal of chicken and smoked salmon before making off with £250 from the safe and moving onto the jewellery store. It seems their hunger for the diamonds wasn’t outweighed by the hunger in their stomachs as they made a meal of their illegal activities!