Policeman Hero Of Bank Raid: Police Constable John Pitcher, 31, walked up to a gunman outside a bank yesterday and lifted a baby boy in a pushchair to safety. As he reached the baby, a gun was pointed straight at him. P.C. Pitcher had been on duty in High Street, Harlesden, when he heard an alarm from the Midland Bank 100 yards away. He ran up and pushed shoppers back from the bank door. Two men, armed with shotguns, were guarding the door as the rest of the gang were snatching `70,000 from the staff inside. Then P.C. Pitcher saw the baby, alone and crying beside one of the bandits. He pointed to the baby and slowly began to walk forward. "I nodded towards the child", he said last night. The gunman "got the idea and nodded back. I went to the pushchair and lifted it away with the child inside." Then with the gun still on him, P.C. Pitcher, turned his back, walked towards the crowd and gave the baby to a woman . The baby's identity was not known last night. When he looked round, the gang, of about eight masked men, were running from the bank. They jumped into a gateway van which was later found abandoned. Photo shows Police Constable John Pitcher pictured yesterday.
Photo measures 8 x 10.25 inches.
Photo is dated 12-16-1970.
Photo back:
