The fact that so many of these hawkers have no fixed abode is one factor which makes their detection dificult. They usually have a motorcar which serves the dual purpose of providing motive power for a caravan and án easy method of travelling to and from whatever place has been selected for a base. The regulations require a motor-car owner to register his address with the licensing authority, ánd usually knowledge of a motor-car index number enables Police to trace the owner: but the travelling hawker, having no address. frequently uses the address of a wholesaler from whom he purchases goods, The wholesaler may or may not give permission for this to be done; but, as he seldom knows where his customer can be found, the knowledge that motor-car index number XYZ 1234 was used in connection "With a carpet offence very seldom assists the officer in charge of the Purported to be from London. It referred to their valuer's call on the householder; stated that the writer had been instructed to confirm the Offer made, and continued with the information that their Mr.——would call on a given date (usually about four days ahead) to collect the articles and pay cash for them The letter closed with a paragraph to the effect that Messrs. Blank and Company were always anxious to Purchase good class hand-made Oriental carpets and rugs, and a list, showing the prices they were prepared to pay for carpets and rugs of various sizes and qualities, was enclosed.
The ground was thus prepared for the second part of the scheme; the mind of the householder was well impressed with the idea that Messrs. Blank and Company would pay extravagant prices for Oriental carpets, A day or two after the letter was received and before the date fixed for Payment and collection of his goods, other members of the gang called on the householder. They offered for sale what they described as antique hand-made Persian rugs and carpets. Sometimes they said these had been smuggled into the country sometimes the seller said he was forced to sell the goods at a loss in order to raise capital to release other goods from bond; there have been instances where touching reference is made to an invalid wife, a sick child, and bad trade.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.