Fern
Member
- Location
- New Zealand
That figures.
Odd Happenings in OZ.
- Thread starter Diwundrin
- Start date
That figures.
Diwundrin
Well-known Member
- Location
- Nth Coast NSW Australia
Hey, we're good at it! If you ever watch 'The Kangaroo Gang' on TV you'll get a giggle. A documentary about a gang of shop thieves from Melbourne and Sydney back in the 60s who got their heads together, left for better pickings and 'did' London.
They got away with millions in jewellery and high end stuff just through pure bluff and flim flam. The cops were so busy with smash and grab viiolent robbers they completely overlooked this quiet outfit. Took months to even figure out that the robberies were linked to a gang of con artists. They never pulled a gun or threatened anyone and there was never any violence involved, even in knocking off a full tray of diamond rings from a top jeweller who didn't even know they were missing until hours after the heist. This gang was smoooooth.
They dressed like toffs and did the accents to perfection. One specialised in being a Texan, others as upper crust Poms, took a long time to realise they were the dreaded Aussies wreaking revenge. Some though actually were Poms, recruited along the way for one off 'perfomances' on a con.
The fellow who did the funniest job said the press got it wrong that he'd 'kidnapped' a chimp from Harrod's pet shop by wrapping it in a baby blanket and wheeling it out in a pram. It was actually a rare South American Margay cat that he stole 'to order'.
The doco includes interviews with old members of the gang, and with the coppers who chased them who still find it all very amusing. As one said, they were victimless crimes, the only ones hurt were the insurance companies and that's almost legal isn't it?
One woman remarked, "well we sent our crooks down there so they came back and ripped us off, kind of only fair really."
The one chilling interview was with a dear old fellow, very nice, dignified, polite and it took a few seconds to register that he was an ex hit man.
He was their protection in Australia when they were running Two-up double headed penny cons on the waterfront. He was puzzled how they got away with what they did and admired their skills but seemed to have no hang-ups with his own connection to them.
Now that is a 'senior' with a past fit to tell stories about. Never sure who's in the room next door in the nursing home do ya?
They got away with millions in jewellery and high end stuff just through pure bluff and flim flam. The cops were so busy with smash and grab viiolent robbers they completely overlooked this quiet outfit. Took months to even figure out that the robberies were linked to a gang of con artists. They never pulled a gun or threatened anyone and there was never any violence involved, even in knocking off a full tray of diamond rings from a top jeweller who didn't even know they were missing until hours after the heist. This gang was smoooooth.
They dressed like toffs and did the accents to perfection. One specialised in being a Texan, others as upper crust Poms, took a long time to realise they were the dreaded Aussies wreaking revenge. Some though actually were Poms, recruited along the way for one off 'perfomances' on a con.
The fellow who did the funniest job said the press got it wrong that he'd 'kidnapped' a chimp from Harrod's pet shop by wrapping it in a baby blanket and wheeling it out in a pram. It was actually a rare South American Margay cat that he stole 'to order'.
The doco includes interviews with old members of the gang, and with the coppers who chased them who still find it all very amusing. As one said, they were victimless crimes, the only ones hurt were the insurance companies and that's almost legal isn't it?
One woman remarked, "well we sent our crooks down there so they came back and ripped us off, kind of only fair really."
The one chilling interview was with a dear old fellow, very nice, dignified, polite and it took a few seconds to register that he was an ex hit man.
He was their protection in Australia when they were running Two-up double headed penny cons on the waterfront. He was puzzled how they got away with what they did and admired their skills but seemed to have no hang-ups with his own connection to them.
Now that is a 'senior' with a past fit to tell stories about. Never sure who's in the room next door in the nursing home do ya?
Warrigal
SF VIP
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
I remember the headlines and stories about these happenings, back in the day.
Makes one all warm and patriotic to think that we were gold medal winners of the Thieves Olympics.
Aussie Aussie Aussie
Oi, Oi, Oi.
Makes one all warm and patriotic to think that we were gold medal winners of the Thieves Olympics.
Aussie Aussie Aussie
Oi, Oi, Oi.
Diwundrin
Well-known Member
- Location
- Nth Coast NSW Australia
Gotta be good at sumthin' Warri, may as well be at what the World thinks we were bred for.