Bowes Park Weekly News, 12 January 1940
Thieves broke into the Crouch End branch of the Westminster Bank during the week-end, and tried to blow open the safe in the strong room but failed.
A note, which was found pinned to the wall when the bank was opened on Monday morning, said: “We were unlucky. The blow-pipe burst. We have been here many hours. Everybody seems to be asleep.”
Detectives believe the thieves entered through a skylight on Saturday afternoon, changed one of the door locks, and returned early on Sunday with the apparatus for blowing open the safe. Finger-print experts examined the premises.