NINE SUSPECTS TRAPPED ON A 'BUS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 17 January 1928, Page 5

NINE SUSPECTS TRAPPED ON A 'BUS

DETECTIVE'S STRATEGY REWARDED .>'/ LONDON, v 24th Nov. Nine suspects, riding on top of an omnibus in Bethnal Green. yesterday, were neatly trapped by Scotland Yard's flying Squad. The simplicity of the plait made it a master-stroke of police strategy. Detective Inspector Sharpe, the organiser of the coup, left Scotland Yard early yesterday morning in his ownprivate car to reconnoitre the East End. He cruised about the neighbourhood of Shoreditch, Stepney,,Bethnal Green, and Hoxton for some, hours. He had posted member? of his squad at various points.'

SHADOWED

Eventually no saw four or five men approaching, and he shadowed them until he saw them hail a passing omnibus. The inspector, by means of a prearrangedl signal, instructed one of his men to board the omnibus, while he continued to shadow the vehicle in his car. • -•■ . Inspector Sharpe eventually saw the men alight near Shoreditch Church. They met another party, walked a short distance up the road, and all the nine then jumped on another omnibus. Inspector Sharpo signalled to two of his men to-board the omnibus, and, by means of a prearranged code, a message was passed to tjje conductor and a> to the driver, instructing him to drive rapidly to Bethnal Green Police Station without stopping. ' The omnibus dashed along Bethnal Green road and did not stop until it pulled up suddenly outside the police station, to the amazement of the nine men and the surprise of the 'other passengers. THE SEQUEL

None of the men had the slightest idea of what was happening, and they glanced through the upper windows to see why they were stopping outside the police station. They saw a smartly dressed man jump off the omnibus and spring up the steps of the police station. ' In a few seconds he reappeared followed by a squad of uniformed constables and sergeants. The policemen surrounded the omnibus two deep. In spector Sharpe jumped on the omnibus and, going upstairs, called to the nine to come down.» They were astounded, but,' realising that they had been trapped, quietly surrendered and followed the inspector down the steps. Each man was seized by a policeman and taken inside the police station. They will appear at Old Street Police Court this morning. It is the first time in police history that a motor omnibus running its normal service has been improvised as a sort of Black Maria to convey suspects to a police station.