CRIME IN LONDON WORRIES SCOTLAND YARD

Chronicle (Levin), 2 May 1947, Page 2

CRIME IN LONDON WORRIES SCOTLAND YARD

Received Thursday, 7 p.m. LONDON, April 30. Loudoners are perturbed X>y the receut killing in the West End of a mau who attempted to interfere with the escape of three armed meu after they raided a jeweller's shop. This was only oue of eight major crime . incideuts in the saine day, otliers including a second shooting affair when a poiieeman had a narrow eseape, and thefts of cars, elothing, jewellery, butter, petrol eoupons, and cameras. The most serious and disturbing of all was the murder of Alexander de. kntiquis, the father of six' children, ' by: gunmen who fired six shots and wore. white kerchiefs over their faces in their daylight raid. Scotland Yard, it is reported, believes that this incident faces it with a newr problem: that of the amateur desperado who will rob, and then slioot his way out. Oue of Scotland Yard's chiefs has stated: "This starts a new era in crime. We have been worried about it. Now it has happeued. Any silly ignoramus thinks that just because he has a gun he c&n get away with robbery. " As a result of all these incidents more than '500 detectives took part in a search. Scores of criminals were located and told that they had to account for their movements during the past 24 hours. Several were detained fer questioning. Crime has been rampant in London as well as in other parts of the eountry ever since the wrar ended, and s.o many burglaries have been committed that in surance companies have been faced with big payments. Iii addition, London was recently "shocked by the revelation of vice and the existence of gangs who demand ' ' protection ' ' money ' from women, many of whom have been brought over from the capitals of the Continent and installed in expcnsive flats, with rentals, in §ome cases, of £40 a week. Scotland Yard also has begun a big clean-up of these rackets. The masked killer who shot de Antiquis in the attempted hold-up of the jewellery shop, and the twro other ban dits with him, are members of a 1 1 guns for ture" gang of about 20 desperate men, says the Evening Standard 's crime reporter. These Chicago-like gangsters are still at liberty aud so far have eluded the biggest comb-out of the uuderwold Scotland Yard has ever made.