$2,000 or bomb goes off threat – May 11, 1972

Originally published – May 11, 1972

THE heart of Mildura’s shopping centre was cordoned off when an attempt was made to extort $2000 from Shillidays department store.

A store official was told by telephone that a bomb had been planted in the building.

Fire engines, police vehicles and ambulance units went to the store on the corner of Eighth Street and Langtree Avenue, as 60 employees left the single story building.

The drama began at 1.35pm when the store telephonist (Miss Joy Faulkhead) received a call from a man with a foreign accent.

The man demanded to talk to the manager of Shillidays (Mr Joe Barbuto).

Mr Barbuto was not available, and the call was put through to the accountant (Mr Ted Brown).

The man told Mr Brown that a bomb had been planted in the store and was timed to go off at 2.30pm.

He told Mr Brown it would cost the store $2000 to be told of the bomb location.

The man said he would call back in half an hour for Mr Brown’s answer.

At 2.25pm, the man called again and Mr Barbuto answered.

The anonymous caller told Mr Barbuto that $2000 was to be made up of used notes and put in a plain envelope.

Mr Barbuto asked how he would deliver the money.

The caller said he would ring back at 2.40pm to let Mr Barbuto know.

The man did not call back and at 3.20pm the store resumed trading.

About 20 police and firemen made an intensive search of the store for two hours.

A box was found lying on the floor of a toilet.

The lid of the box was cautiously lifted and it was found to be an empty toy container.

The search continued with every product in the store being inspected.

Traffic was not allowed to enter Langtree Avenue and vehicles were diverted from Eighth Street.

Despite warnings issued over Radio 3MA and police requests, onlookers would not keep back from the store.

Police said the chance of an “unbalanced individual” actually carrying out a threat to blow up an establishment made the situation very difficult.