Evening star., 1936-12-10
PETTY RACKETS
COST MILLIONS
GullibIe New Workers and
Visitors Robbed CIeverly
by Gangs.
ny the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, December 10.-The
"car-watching" racket, against which
police and automobile organizations
have launched concerted drive, Is
only one of many similar petty prac-
tices which exact millions yearly from
New Yorkers, Attorney General John
J. Bennett said Tuesday.
"The composite mind Of our rack
eteers," he said, "is more ingenious
than that Of any group Of scientists"
Commenting police for smashing
the midtown "car-watching" game,
which has cost motorists many thou
sands of dollars yearly, Bennett de-
scribed a number of other rackets
calling for relentless attack by his
ofice.
Begun by urchins looking for amuse-
ment money, "car watching" was
taken over during the depression by
hoodlums. The queries, watch your
car, mister?" had begun to carry
the "* or else" implication Of
sabotage when police took action
last week.
Hundreds of such rackets, the at
torney general said, have been
scotched, but others spring up in
their places, the new ones more fan
tastic than the old, many Of them
barely within the law"
Head Cure Game"
In the neighborhood of New York's
two great railroad terminals, Penn
sylvania and Grand Central, about
10 barber shops have been reported
operating the head cure game" on
travellers.
A barger, cutting the hair OF an
out-of- -towner, suddenly draws back in
horror. He holds between his fingers
o tiny. squirming worm.
Good heavens!" declares the ton
sorialist, and then, whispering, I'm
sorry to say, sir, this is a very serious
condition. We have just the remedy"
The treatment ranges from $3.50 to
$40, depending upon the gullibility and
size of pocketbook Of the patron.
Along about this season ragged little
fellows start dropping into department
counters. They decline proffers of
sweets by the customers, but when
the purchasers change is laid on the
counter they snatch it up and streak
down the street before he can say,
scamp"
AS powerful as the element of fear
In protective rackets" that infest
many business lines, Bennett said, is
the petty larceny in the heart of the
ordinary individual which makes him
an easy victim to statesmen of "hot"
or stolen wares. He sidles alongside
pedestrians and in undertones offers
bolts of smuggled cloth, watches. rain
coats, etc, etc. His low price Is from
five to 10 times the actual worth Of
the goods, and his watch with the face
and case of an expensive make con-
tains 12-cent works.
Bona fide hot stuff" goes to and
through well established fences" and
Is never sold on the street.
Invitations to Robbery.
BENEFITS files show, among other
things, that:
People still invest their savings for
partnership in machines that manu-
facture money right before their eyes.
They answer advertisements for "a
steel engraving of Washington or Lin
coin for only 81" and receive stamp.
Women auto drivers leave their
pocketbooks on car seats, where street
vendors can reach them during a red
light halt.
Men play pin games, normally I'M
possible to beat, made more unbeat-
able by bent pins and magnets.
Many contribute a dollar a week to
"suit clubs" lotteries where one never
wins, but gets a $40 suit by protest.
Ing against crookedness after so or
more contributions.