WOMAN AS DECOY.

Franklin Times, Volume XXII, Issue 90, 3 August 1932, Page 2

WOMAN AS DECOY.

SYDNEY RACKETEERS. GHIGAGOAN GANG LEADER. EXPENSIVE TOBACCO 'TRADE." Led by a vicious Southern European, who has as his first lieutenant and consort a young and beautiful Australian woman-, desperate burglargangsters (says Sydney Sun) are introducing two well-known Chicago criminal rackets to Sydney—the "weed" (tobacco) and bag-snatching. An amazing aspect of the "weed" racket, particularly, is that police experts confess that the market "is seemingly gigantic, and we are powerless to. prove identification of the stolen property." This statement was made when the Melbourne Retail Tobacconists' Association's exposure of the extent of the racket in Melbourne was made known. The police are apparently powerless against the gang, which is operating in city and suburbs, and which threatens to expand its activities into other criminal channels.

Startling details of the gangsters' operations were given to the Sunday Sun by a young man who had become enmeshed in the evil wor"k. He spoke under The seal of confidence and from a background of real terror. "I only talk in the hope that this publicity will kill the racket," he said. His remarkable exposure follows— Easy to Sell.

Cigarettes, cigars and cigarette and pipe tobacco (or 'weed") as as good as cash. The person who buys any will always pay half the retail price for it.

The gangsters leave no fingerprints and travel in swift cars. As in 'Chicago, they see that they are better equipped than the police. Whatever money can buy for the police the gangsters go one better. When action is held up temporarily in their "weed" racket the gangsters I have in mind fill their pockets with spoils from highly-specialised bagsnatching from women in the streets, in stores and in cabarets.

Seventy per cent, of the "weed" racket is controlled by a Southern European. He is linked up with the notorious Mafia-Camorra, which founded the notorious racket and gangster operations in the United States of America.

He migrated to New York, where he operated for a long time, until he came to Australia, via England, about three years ago. He has served six months in an Australian prison for burglary. He came to Sydney, and got in touch with other Southern Europeans, who have served sentences in Melbourne for burglary. Chicago Trained.

The leader is aged about 36. He has forgotten more about crime than most Australian criminals will ever know. He is tall, dark and goodlooking. He always carries an automatic pistol, and a curved-blade knife under his vest, near the left armpit. This fiendish parasite, who swaggeringly boasts that he is "homesick" for the cha-cha-cha of machine guns, is Sydney's first real taste of Chicago's Little Gaesardom. He has a mistress —a Melbourne girl, aged 21. She is a beautiful brunette, with long, bobbed hair a la Greta Garbo. She works with "the boys." She is becoming so expert that she often picks holes in their plans, and smoothes out the "technique" with woman's subtle touch. They are confident they will never be captured. They are unknown to Sydney's underworld, and to probably all of Sydney's police. They "work in" with such influential business men in the city that the alibis and protection they will receive are obvious. They move about in a powerful sedan car, one that they keep tuned up for emergency escapes from the police patrols. Incidentally they stole the car. The number-plates are copies of those on a car in a far-distant country centre, one that never comes to Sydney! Charming Thief. The girl's charms are particularly effective in the handbag racket. Gowned in daring creations, at night she visits popular restaurants and supper-dance places in the company of "the boss," who looks a gallant sheik in his dinner suit.

She insinuates her way into parties, and you'd be surprised at the number of well-known men who have "fallen" for her, and who now miss watches and other valuables.

It Is amazingly simple, when you know the technique, as this beautiful girl does. The good-looking "boss" lures women out to the car, and is soon terrorised by the girl, who has followed and enacts the part of a wronged wife!

The woman bolts, and her bag is stolen in the excitement! She is too ashamed to report the loss. Explanations would make her appear so foolish—and indiscreet!

Terrorised people in Sydney are often scared to report to Ihe police from fear of reprisals.

This particular gang is desperate. The men are always well armed. They ar willing, which means that they would fight it out to the death with police if cornered.

The "boss' gloats over gory reminiscences of New York and Chicago. The "pals" and the girl listen, wideeyed. "Only saps work," is their motto.