Re: Ronnie Biggs : Thu Dec 19, 2013 9:38 am  

Rooster Booster wrote:

Read what I said again. The great train robbers were like modern day (in the 60s) Robin Hoods, nicking what they could from the rich.

Except that they didn't steal from the rich, they stole public money from the Post Office, in effect they stole from everyone, a small blip in the total amount of the "promise to pay the bearer" of outstanding pledges in the country but still, the money didn't come from the pockets of the well heeled.

Re: Ronnie Biggs : Thu Dec 19, 2013 9:58 am  

JerryChicken wrote:

Except that they didn't steal from the rich, they stole public money from the Post Office,... the money didn't come from the pockets of the well heeled.

The bulk of the money was packets of notes destined for at least 8 banks. Of which at least one (Midland Bank, who lost about £1/2m) weren't insured.

Re: Ronnie Biggs : Thu Dec 19, 2013 10:10 am  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

The bulk of the money was packets of notes destined for at least 8 banks. Of which at least one (Midland Bank, who lost about £1/2m) weren't insured.

There was a strange reliance on The Post Office train wasn't there, the idea that no-one would rob HM Post Office trains because, well, they just wouldn't.

I've read that the year before there were recommendations that the carriages on that regular train service should have better security provisions, bars on the windows and locks on the doors were recommended, three carriages were thus fitted but not in use, radios were recommended too but were considered to be far too expensive for something that would never happen.

Re: Ronnie Biggs : Thu Dec 19, 2013 1:15 pm  

JerryChicken wrote:

Except that they didn't steal from the rich, they stole public money from the Post Office, in effect they stole from everyone, a small blip in the total amount of the "promise to pay the bearer" of outstanding pledges in the country but still, the money didn't come from the pockets of the well heeled.

How much did they give to the poor (the other half of the Robin Hood equation)?

Re: Ronnie Biggs : Thu Dec 19, 2013 1:36 pm  

Chris28 wrote:

How much did they give to the poor (the other half of the Robin Hood equation)?

Well according to the drama last night they offered some money to the poor train drivers.

Re: Ronnie Biggs : Thu Dec 19, 2013 2:03 pm  

Chris28 wrote:

How much did they give to the poor (the other half of the Robin Hood equation)?

They didn't bother with the hood, they just concentrated on the rob(b)in.

Re: Ronnie Biggs : Thu Dec 19, 2013 2:21 pm  

I think Mintball has it just right. I was a copper in the East End in the early 1980's, obviously after the twins were locked up. One of my tea stops was an ex Krays enforcer who worshipped them, and insisted they never harmed no-one but other criminals. Mmmmm....The Krays and their like were pussycats compared to the organised criminals operating in London over the last few years. As for Biggs, my belief is he was a nonentity who had sufficient guile and charm to interest the more gullible members of the media.

Re: Ronnie Biggs : Thu Dec 19, 2013 10:08 pm  

Euclid wrote:

One of my tea stops was an ex Krays enforcer who worshipped them, and insisted they never harmed no-one but other criminals. Mmmmm....The Krays and their like were pussycats compared to the organised criminals operating in London over the last few years

I was under that impression having worked with people that knew them "It was safe to leave your door open back in those days, etc"

I still think Mad Frankie said one of the funniest lines. When asked "did you kill this person"? He replied "I was found not guilty weren't I"

I agree, the organised crime back home now is far worse than it was then and is far more widespread and more globally influenced.

Re: Ronnie Biggs : Fri Dec 20, 2013 6:03 am  

I think the reason it was safe to leave your door open was that there was nothing worth nicking! Mad Frankie was another who was able to persuade the media that he was a bigger player than he really was, though he was a very naughty boy. I am out in the Middle East training local police forces in combatting Organised Crime...........it is a whole new world for them.

Re: Ronnie Biggs : Fri Dec 20, 2013 7:13 am  

Euclid wrote:

I am out in the Middle East training local police forces in combatting Organised Crime...........it is a whole new world for them.

Whole New World - Middle East - Aladdin - Christmas - I like what you did there.