THE OLIVER TWIST MODEL

Shannon News, 6 August 1926, Page 2

THE OLIVER TWIST MODEL

THIEF SCHOOLS IN LONDON,

Scotland Yard officers have lately been endeavouring- to trace a number of men who for some months have been carrying on schools for teaching youths to become expert thieves. Information has been received that the schools are situated in various parts of London, and that over 300 lads have ‘‘passed out” as expert pickpockets, bag-snatchers and jewel thie\;es_ The method of these modern Fag-ms is to visit police courts and “take over” lads between 17 and 24 years of age who have been placed on probation for petty thefts. The youtns are taken to the schools, where they undergo three months’ training. Steal Under Supervision. Clothes, food and pocket money are supplied, and when the young thieves go out for their first haul they do so under the personal supervision of the boss. If the young thieves show themselves . sufficiently able to carry on without help, they are sent out alone, oi in parties of three or four, on various commissions, the agreement being a percentage of profits on their hauls. Much of the stoSen property is sold from stalls, around which the boys mingle with the crowd and pick the pockets of the potential customers. The old trick of “passing on” is practised. A boy who steals any o»ject does not keep it for more than a minute or two. He passes it on to another member of the gang who takes it to the headquarters of the sang. Kept By Threats. Several boys of good education are in the schools, kept there by threats of exposure to their parents and the police should they try to leave. Many of the boys arc fitted opt, supplied with dress clothes and make their hauls at hotels and from the cloakrooms of night clubs. Much difficulty has been experienced in tracking down the “schoolmasters,” as the schools are moved very frequently in case any disgruntled member should “blow the gaff.” One lad who broke away some weeks ago is known to have started a rival gang in the West End.