Police on the hunt for now famous mail van robbers

“With the discovery of an abandoned lorry near a Nottinghamshire village yesterday, police began scouring a new area in their search for the mail van robbers, whose haul is now known to amount to at least £2,552,000,” reported The Post.

“This was one of a number of possible leads detectives were following up as their vast investigation hotted up. Other developments yesterday included – A minute search of the diesel locomotive and vans involved in the raid. A watch by Scotland Yard women detectives on the girl friends of a number of London crooks whom police believe could have been members of the gang. Parties of Flying Squad detectives speeding to all parts of London following up scores of telephone calls from people with an eye on the in rewards. The lorry was found three miles north of Ranby Roundabout on the new route of the Great North Road in a lane which leads from the new road to the old A1. It was about 100 yards from the main road.

“It was later removed a heavy breakdown waggon to the Army’s tank transporter camp at Ranby, Notts. Fingerprint experts scrutinised it inch by inch. Another possible lead concerned the handcuffs used on the driver and co-driver of the train.

“Mr Jack Mills, driver of the train, was discharged from the Royal Bucks Hospital. Aylesbury, yesterday. He arrived home with his head swathed in bandages.”