MOTOR BANDITS IN LONDON
NEW PROBLEM FOE SCOTLAND YAM). Scotland Yard is pitting its full strength against a gang of motor bandits who for weeks past have raided shops and warehouses in all parts of London (states the "Daily Mail'). It is recognised that the gang is well organised and skilfully led, indicating that at ite head is an executive whioh plans the thefts and probably details the operations. Tho detectives do not incline to tho view that there is a master criminal. Master criminals, they siy, live in novels ralhcr than 111 real liJ'c. But there is i! very clear iilcjL of the competition oF the band. The men arc believed to be mostly ex-soldiers, who, during military service, were associated with mechanical transport, and so acquired a knowledge of motors which they now apply to thieving. . , "There is 110 doubt, s-aid a prominent detective, "that some are expert motor mechanics, for they handle cars wi h great skill and aro rarely troubled with mechanical defects. It is 011 iy since the war that thieves with this knowledgo have come under our notice in sucli numbers, and it is fair reasoning to assume that' they are ex-soldiers.'' Another fact indicates Army discipline and training. The men obey a 1 orders and signals promptly and work tofj^tliei. On many occasions when surprised l-W the police a note of warning has been sounded by a scout. other men of tho gang "on the job have hurried to the- car in waiting, but. not until the last man has taken his scat has the vehicle movefl off. rn one cafe, when the men realised they had left a companion behind, the ear' was turned and charged an. officer at full speed, in tho hope that he would release his hold of the man and enable him to be dragged into the car. ilio oP.cer held on, however, and as other oilicers en me up the car mado off at full speed. The bandits, it is bclievd, ar" acuuainted with police methods, and lay their plans accordingly. Tlicy always use a ford car, proKably because there are so many in u=e. and one ford is much like another. It is undeHxcd to be the police practice if a ford is noticed loitering about the streets or "behaving in a suspicious manner" to apprise all stations, giving the ii:dcx number of the car. The gaiy are believed to be. aware of thii, and accordingly ".-how'' lly ear in various parts of one pol'cc division. When thev iudge tlirv have work'd the iHieo oIV that ana in!- thWii" lint a. "iob" is to lf> brought off there, tlioy slip into a side street, ehaotre t hi- index ninte, and tVn dr : ve awav to aiiof'er |iart of London where the real "job" is panned. Scotland Yard fnllv alive io all til est dodges, and has planned minitnrmeasures which, :t!« thought, will prove effective.
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Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 29, 29 October 1919, Page 8
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488MOTOR BANDITS IN LONDON Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 29, 29 October 1919, Page 8
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