Dec. 13, 1978: Thieves fall for elaborate police ‘sting’
A top-secret police operation broke a citywide theft ring and recovered more than $125,000 in stolen property.
With the help of an American detective, a bogus pinball arcade was set up on 118th Avenue at 58th Street.
Undercover investigator Moses Ector of Atlanta, Ga., gained the confidence of city criminals during the fourmonth probe. He soon was disposing of vast amounts of stolen property from house break-ins.
Police stored the property in a city warehouse during the course of the investigation.
As part of the “sting,” Ector dressed in sunglasses, floppy hat and mod clothes, frequented known criminal hangouts, and made it known that he was in the market for stolen goods.
“Most people got the idea I was Mafia,” Ector said with a laugh. “Crooks are always expecting the worst.”
The secret operation was known only to highestechelon officers of the police department.
The operation involved two police recruits who operated the bogus arcade with the help of Supt. William Stewart and Insp. Art Donald. Transactions were tape-recorded and videotaped.
“This was perhaps the bestkept secret in the police department,” Stewart said.
Ector handed out business cards under the name T.J. McGreevy Enterprises, a division of CAC which he would say stood for CanadianAmerican Cooperation, but privately was known as Catch A Crook. McGreevy was the deputy director of the Georgia Bureau Investigation.
Police believed they received property from about 50 house break-ins. On one occasion a mink coat was “fenced” for $300 and police later discovered a diamond ring in one of the pockets appraised at close to $7,000.
Stewart said police had acquired good knowledge of the pattern of break-ins in the city and had recovered more property than would normally be the case.
The stolen property that was fenced included 14 televisions sets, microwave ovens, cameras, minks, diamond rings, stereo components, motorcycles, cars, mint coins collections. Owners had been traced for 75 per cent of the items.
The operation concluded with warrants issued for 24 people. czdeb@edmontonjournal. com