Crimestopper by Bryan McLaughlin

Author:Bryan McLaughlin
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781845024970
Publisher: Black & White Publishing
Published: 2012-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

11

COMMENDABLE ACTIONS AND THE HIGH COURT BOMBED

One of the detective sergeants in the Serious Crime Squad got some alarming information in 1977. His informant told him four hardened East End criminals were planning to raid a factory in the city. Trouble was, he didn’t know which business was to be targeted.

The tout passed on the date of the robbery and explained how the plan would work. They would steal a car and head to the factory, armed with baseball bats. Then they’d rob the staff wages as they were being delivered. I was sceptical of the flimsy details. If I had a pound for every time I’d lain in wait in vain for a crime to happen, I’d be richer than some of the crooks we hunted. This looked like another non-runner.

Nevertheless, on the day, we had squad cars staking out their homes in a bid to catch them early. But there was no sign of the four villains. The DS was back at the police station, hoping his informant would call with more details of the raid, but there was no word. We were in our surveillance van, positioned between a couple of factories where we gambled the robbers might strike. Of the eight detectives in the van, four, including me, were armed. Our Smith & Wesson handguns gave us a sense of security although we’d been told the gangsters would only have their bats to intimidate their victims.

Suddenly the police radio crackled into life. It was the DS with an update. The blag was on. He gave us the make, model, colour and registration of the stolen car. Then he passed on some information that made us very nervous. The four men were armed. But only two of them had baseball bats. The other pair had sawn-off shotguns! Any air of calm in the van disappeared when he confirmed he didn’t know if the shooters were loaded.

Soon after, the stolen motor arrived and the tough-looking occupants jumped out and pulled balaclavas over their heads to disguise their identities. They headed for the entrance as the money had already been delivered. Four of us crept to the front door while the others went round the back. Inside, we heard threatening shouts and the sound of women screaming. Fortunately, there was no gunfire as the bandits scooped up the cash. We ran towards the commotion but our route was blocked by locked doors. Our colleagues had managed to get in and were now battling with the raiders.

At one point I looked through a window and saw one of our men tussling on the ground with a robber. They were both trying to get their hands on one of the shotguns. It was a frightening sight and I was desperate to help him before he got hurt. I spotted a door which had opaque glass in it. I tried to get it open but it was locked. Then I was met by the frightening vision, through the frosted glass, of a masked man advancing on the door with his shotgun raised.

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