SO just what is?
a LOOKER a NUDGER and a LIFTER..
LISTEN UP and I WILL FILL YOU IN:
All towns and cities had pickpocket gangs, not just PORTSMOUTH,
but it is to POMPEY which I will refer..
A LOOKER, well a LOOKER looked, it was the LOOKERS job to find
a victim, and to note where any valuables maybe about their person.
This information was passed to the NUDGER who had to distract the
victim in some way, maybe talk to them, ask them a question, knock
them over, and (Being PORTSMOUTH help them to get up again),
when the NUDGER thought the time was right, they would 'TIP THE
WINK' to the LIFTER who had to relieve the victim of the said
valuables, a very skilled job to my mind, some LIFTERS could
perform magic in the art of item removal.
The LIFTER took the greatest risk of being caught and in most gangs
received the greatest share of the spoils.
Most gangs worked crowds, Charlotte Street and Commercial Road
being popular spots, also Southsea sea front, the races at Goodwood
and fairs.
A group of gangs which worked Charlotte Street came up with the
idea , for a fee, they would not pick the pockets of regular visitors,
but the first person they approached with this suggestion, went
straight to Kingston Crescent 'NICK' and told the 'ROZZERS' who
promptly rounded up the 'URKS' identified, bit of a disaster that.
They choose the wrong 'COVE' to offer this service too, cos' their
intended punter was a Station Sergeant from Fratton, who walked
Charlotte a lot, looking for 'CHICKEN HEADS', well he had marital
problems, didn't he.
I TRUST YOU UNDERSTOOD 'EVERY' WORD OF THE ABOVE ...
Fratton Park - 1939 - Monty - Jimmy Dickerson and all that ..