DOCKSIDE CROOKS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 993, 9 June 1930, Page 10

DOCKSIDE CROOKS

i ORGANISED BANDS Of ROBBERS HUGE PILFERING LOBBES It the railways suffer terribly organised pilferers, the plight of companies controlling quay* ana ' stores is no better, and Barba, worse, writes a Port of official. Despite precautions in the shape « dock constables and wharf detectiv the losses are enormous. At the Lodon docks alone it is computed ts . two to three million pounds worth J goods a year are pilfered. There are very many bands of ties* thieves and usually the master mh,j is not only in the background, hrwould never be suspected of “rece’r ing.” The camouflage adopted ), usually one of those ditn rnaritiffi.stores that transact business with « sorts and conditions of sailors ng those connected with ships. The front shop is innocent enough to stand the inspection of the mev lynx-eyed detective, while usual'T there are one or two genuine cus tomers dropping in for supplies for their dunnage chests. A c&pacioui cellar and an ostensible garage at th? rear proves usually the “dump” wher= stolen property is housed. “Sailor” Munro Thieves, pure hut certainly an simple, come with their loot and re ceive the price in cash, and depart to get happily drunk. Indeed, the unravel, ling of this class of crime usually begins in the small dockside drinkinf den. More (han one detective of renown has emulated the famous et ploits of the late Inspector Munro, o! the Yard, known universally at “Sailor,” who was deputed by the London Port authorities to elear up the thieving evil. His method was to disguise himself as a sailor just ashore, very drunk and with plenty of money. He car ried his life in his hands, and on two occasions was hurled into a slimy creek by infuriated “pals” because he would not drink enough. His discoi eries proved there was collusion is side the docks with organised band? of robbers who cared not what they stole so long as it was easily cosverted into cash. Violent Assaults Violent assaults on watchmen anc special guards appointed to protect valuables became at last almost t commonplace. It w-as not. until Inspector Munro ran “Scotch’’ Murchic son to earth that the ringleader wu removed. He was tried for a grata series of thefts and “receiving,” aid sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment Three of his subordinates went to prison with him. , But not even the example of a»cr. a punishment can eradicate this evil The dock “rats,” slinking, cunninf men of dubious nationality, hid among the huge stretches of wart houses and bonded stores. Wher darkness -falls, dodging the patrol they get to work, boring their way through wooden walls, or carryin? out expert workmanship in forcinj massive locks.

It often happens that the loot is purchased by a dishonest skipper who thus loads his craft with a choice assortment of merchandise and r tractive articles. The transference of the stuff is simple enough, whil it is easily hidden aw ay beneath » proper cargo. The ship then slip? out of port, and later the dock super intendent reports “another robbery Considerable cunning and applies tion are displayed in the looting el bonded stores. There have been irstances where a suspected ship ha been searched with special care, whi! the skipper has stood by with pensive look. Reported “clean,” the vessel has cleared the port. But the dumm funnel was filled to the top with hundreds of cases of finest whisky. Behind this “business” lies r. sink ter background of violence and ever murder. Zealous watchmen who d their duty thoroughly have know: w-hat it is to live a life of terrorism Sometimes bodies have been four floating in some dreary creek or stucin the mud of a half-forgotten creel when the tide is low’. An examination of the body has revealed terribl? skull wounds. In other words, some cf the “rats” have found their prey an: repeated, w-hisperingly, the old, oil saying, “Dead men tell no tales.” A Thames Mystery Doubtless some readers will reeoi lect a mystery of the River Thame 1 that was never cleared up. In 1913 the body of a man whohei acted as a watchman for one of th stores at the London pool was fowl in the river after being reported mis? ing for several days. On the night he vanished his warhouse, where he was on duty, ws? broken open and £6OO w-orth of vat ables removed. When found the machead was smashed in and his face terribly disfigured, while the medical e r dence suggested heavy boots had - flicted the awful wounds on his chee, There could be no question he hs been surprised by the crooks, ove powered, and, being a man and a goo fighter, had probably resisted. Hen he was murdered and throw n into th' river. There have been many river m; teries connected with the stretch ■ Thames where the wharves and doc*? are. Sometimes the body of a _•*; man is found, or it may be some inc vidual connected with the dock There are not only cosmopolitan sa ors, engineers, stokers, lascars. but mystery men connected with t£handling of dope, the movements ships engaged in gun-running, and » peddling of stolen goods. Dockside Dens In the viciinty of Limehouse. ping, etc., there are many half-fot®* ten and disused c reeks upon the swof which are found half dismanti sheds, once used as dock warebonw Some of these are used as rail - points for the bands of dock threrw Some time ago a sanguinary h* l between the police and a cot * ■ desperate thieves occurred on the r where stood Execution Dock. One man was killed and s P°7. man severely injured, but of arrests were made, and the s* broken up. jut The site of the affray was . Execution Dock, as for many convicted seamen, pirates. f . invariably hanged there and le hibited on a gibbet. Here jp suffered ignominious death, pirate crew of The Flowery I** 1 were hanged there.