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Lorry Theft Ring—Three Men Accused
Page 9
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THREE men accused at Harlow Court last week of lorry stealing were alleged to be members of a flourishing ring of lorry thieves.
Mr. Thomas Lavelle. prosecuting, said that 14 stolen lorries had been identified and property worth more than £20,000 was involved.
the ringleader, he alleged, was James R. Cummings, 40, of Hatfield Heath, Essex. With Cummings in the dock were Douglas Knight. 32, of no fixed address and William John I.evine, 36, street trader, of Muswell Hill, Each of them appeared on 20 charges, alleging conspiracy to steal, or that they received lorries and trailers with their loads. The lorries were said to have been stolen from Forest Gate, Willesden, Fulham, Chingford, Kentish Town and Stoke Newington.
Mr. Lavelle said: " A question often asked is what happens to the large number of lorries stolen in the London area. This case may give some part of the answer."
After his haulage business had collapsed Cummings went into business-a very lucrative business indeed "—with Knight and Levine as lorry thieves, said Mr. Lavelle, who added that the average value ot each of the lorries was £1,400. but after being broken up they netted only £550.
When the case resumed on Monday, many of the 35 witnesses called lo identify exhibits and describe vehicles were directors, transport managers and drivers for haulage firms.
Det. Constable Ronald Barnes said he found 34 tins of salmon and three full cases of fish in the pantry of a publichouse. Outside in the yard was a lorry loaded with 462 cases of salmon. The lorry and its load were alleged to have been stolen from Fulham,
The court adjourned until next Monday when the hearing is to be concluded. 57