The armed gangs operating in the district, are believed to be numerous, although ballistic evidence goes to prove that one big gang in particular is responsible for the majority of crimes committed in the district in recent weeks, It has been found that besides pistols, rifles are also in the possession of the criminals, who appear to be well supplied, with arms and who seem to feel quite safe in Japanese controlled territory inasmuch as that only a small number of Ta Tao policemen are armed, the remainder carrying batons only.
Evidently the large number of gambling dens in the vicinity of the area, is to a great extent responsible for the increase in armed crime there. Cars have repeatedly been held up by armed, gangsters and the occupants robbed" of everything, whilst inter-gang jealousies are also responsible for a great number of crimes.
Police gave particular attention yesterday evening and during the early morning hours, to the vicinity of Lane 174, Brenan Road, as it is this spot that various crimes were committed during the past few weeks.
Thys for instance the two C.P.C.s who were disarmed on Brenan Road carly yesterday morning, encountered the numerically very much superior criminals at that" spot, whilst in the early morning. hours of December 14, a police party was shot upon at the same point, although no one was injured.
The Reserve Unit also took part in last night's searches, having since a considerable time been performing flying patrols in the district. during the night. Last night, h ever, they were searching all pedestrians and it was expected that the element of surprise in the measures taken, would with all probability yield some results, Crime Area Wired Off The barricades placed along Jessfield Road from Kinnear Road to Brenan Road and then from Brenan to Kinnear Roads, thus enclaving what is believed to be the heart of the crime ridden area, extend over a distance of several miles and make it impossible for anyone either to approach or leave Brenan Piece, It could not be learned last night for how. long these barricades were to remain there but it was presumed that they would not be moved for at least two or three days, Although preparations for Jast night's activity of the police, has been under way for the past number of days, the various incidents occurring since Friday, seem to have been responsible for the speed and efficiency with which the various nolice parties performed their duties in the district last night.
Before daybreak yesterday,.a coolie who was pulling a cart loaded with old iron bed-steads, was shot at and killed by Japanese sentries at the corner of Tungsing and Keswick Roads after he had not used the Toad. crossing barbed wire defences which separated the Japanese occu-Died territory from the British sector. The victim whose name was given as Tsang Kuo-tsai, 39, was rushed to the Red Cross hospital on Avenue Haig but was found to have died on the way. It is understood that British and Japanese military authorities are at present investigating the incident as statements of what actually happened at the time are (Continued on page 8)
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.