MONEY GONE

Evening Star, Issue 25956, 22 November 1946, Page 9

MONEY GONE

SYDNEY RACKETEERS NOW TURNING TO PETTY THIEVING (Rec. 8 a.in-) SYDNEY, Nov. 21. • The police are on the alert for gang war among Sydney’s big-time criminal racketeers who amassed fortunes on the liquor black-market during the war, but who are now running short of cash, says the ‘ Sydney Sun.’ Every, day in .the Criminal Investigation Bureau line-up are crooks who only a short while ago owned l limousines, escorted bejewelled women, and bet in large amounts at races. Their money gone, they are turning to petty thieving and stand-over tactics. which the police fear may lead to an outbreak of intergang violence. Already, says they* Sun,’ there are underworld ■whisperings that those who have lost their money are attempting to stand over the few who still possess fortunes. Included in recent arrests by detectives were three war-time black market liquor “ bosses,” each of whom at one time was making at least £ooo a week from rackets. Charges against them included robbery and receiving, and they all admitted to detectives that they were without money. The police say that another sure indication that money is getting short in the underworld is the recent flood of forged l cheques. Tn recent months, dozens of city business people have been the victims of forged and valueless cheques.