The "truce" was referred to at a recent meeting of the Cardif Watch Committee, when one of the council-
Tors remarked that "the gentlemen of crime know that the police have their hands full and are playing the game.
"They have ample opportunities for breaking and entering and all kinds of crime in the black-out, but these crimes are practically non-existent."
"Crime is lessening," the Chief Constable corroborated "It is all honour to the habitual criminal and men of that type."
Reports from Chief Constables all over the country show that crime is decreasing.
That applies to crime of nearly all kinds. Even murders and! sex offences—erimes which are usually expected to increase during war time—are not showing any marked rise.
But three new forms of offence have made their appearance as a result of the war.
One is looting. Another is the wholesale theft of Army rations and stores, The other is the organized theft of food vans from outside shops, varchouses and docks.
Cne of the leading officials responsible for tracking the trend of British crime discussed these developments with me yesterday.
"The looting comes into two categories," he said.
"Much of it is a trifling character. People with no criminal intentions have picked up articles and kept them, without fully realizing the seriousness of their offence.
"The more serious looting is the work of habitual criminals, the people who, in normal times, would have been engaged. full time, in burglary, hold-ups and smash-and-grabs, "Yard Knows"
"The Army thefts come into two similar categories. First, the small thefts, by soldiers who do not see the difference between scrounging' and thieving, and second, the big organized thefts, which are the work of professional crooks who have got into khaki.
"The food thefts from outside shops and warehouses, however, are definitely a new development in crime.
Scotland Yard has already discovered a great deal regarding the inside working of this new racket. and before long there will be a big round up."—"The People"
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.