Catching burglars using technology...

SATURDAY MAY 20th 1933

There's a lot being currently said about the emerging technologies which are now being utilised by law enforcement agencies in order to catch criminals. Much of it is the source of some controversy, such as the use of Facial Recognition Technology https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/17/metropolitan-police-trial-facial-recognition-technology-central/ .

However, relatively new technology (in this case, the telephone), was used to good effect back in 1933. In fact, the Bakerlite cased home phone was only released in 1931, and so this case is an early example of relatively fresh tech being used by cops.

Mrs Peacock and her family left their house on North Parade, Grantham, at around 3.45 pm in the afternoon. On doing so, she noticed a youth hanging about outside of her home. When she returned at 5.15 the same evening, her house had been ransacked. Drawers had been ransacked, ten pounds in cash stolen, and a number of watches.

A description of the subject was obtained, and this was telephoned to all towns within a fifty mile radius. A Police Sergeant found a male answering this description upon "the Great North Road", and items matching those taken earlier that evening were found on his person. David Mooney, 18, of no fixed abode but purporting to have come from Glasgow, was detained. The defendant was interviewed, but chose not to speak to Police, (which seems to be an oddity from the time period), and would not confirm more details of whence he came. He was remanded back into custody by the magistrates pending more information from Scotland.

What's remarkable about this case are that the accused was traced so easily (near Long Benington), from a description alone, which was broadcast by means of the telephone. Alas, we don't know what happened to him from this point on, but I would wager that he was given a custodial sentence!

IN OTHER NEWS: Woman's Institute Meeting has attendance of over 100 people.

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