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In the 1960's and 1970's Danny Benjamin owned and ran a boutique in London called the Carnaby Cavern. Prior tothat he had a shop in Uxbridge.
It was just after ten on a cold damp winters night ... A young policeman was enjoying a crafty smoke, hidden from view in a recess next to our broom cupboard in Uxbridge's market.
He saw a young lad enter the deserted market. He came in one entrance and right up to our policeman, but didn't see him. After looking around he quickly ran to the other entrance, making sure all was clear. He returned with a half brick in his hand, threw it at the window, but not hard enough,for it bounced back.
Why oh why our intrepid policeman didn't arrest him there and then I don't understand. Possibly carrying a brick wasn't enough to make an arrest! The next throw made short shift of our window. Grabbing a handful of shirts our miscreant backed out, only to be grabbed by our alert policeman.
He told me later, the lad's face was a picture of complete astonishment, amazement, fear and fright!
On another occasion, Colin and I who were so keen, would never ruin our takings by window dressing during the day.It's true we printed our tickets in the upstairs office.We wouldn't start to empty the windows till six. And then we would work right through the night, usually having breakfast with our friends in the bakery next door, at four in the morning!
On this particular night, our friendly policeman, 'William', came in for a chat, and we broke off for a cup of tea. Itwas about 2 a.m. Suddenly a police car shrieked to a halt outside. I noticed our mate 'William' disappearing into a fitting room!
In minutes, Colin and I had been arrested. They thought we were thieves!! It wasn't easy to prove we owned the shop.I showed them the keys. I had no items to identify me. Colinhad his wallet. Finally with very bad grace they accepted the fact, and left us to continue with our work.
But what of our missing friend 'William'? It was obvious he was more frightened of the 'car cops' than we were! He was really shaken up. Possibly not walking the streets on a cold wet night would have ruined his prospects of promotion.I could never reason it out!
We went through a bad stage of petty burglaries, and then the burglars discovered that if they kicked our doors it set off our alarm. So if they wanted to burgle any premises in the area they could set off our alarm, and whilst the police awaited our arrival, carry on with their skulduggery,knowing the police were occupied.
I was called to the police station and told off for all the trouble we were inadvertently causing. But were offered little constructive advice. Then I had an idea! Several of my customers I knew were burglars. I knew this from themany tales I heard.
So the very next time I asked 'Alex' (a local villain) for his advice and offered to pay him well. He walked around the premises. I was a little worried that I was doing something completely stupid! He was no doubt a complete professional!
I was to brick up two small windows, and screw the frames on two more!.. and around our back perimeter wall, set in large slivers of jagged glass, set in concrete on the top,around the complete wall.
I found an enormous pane of glass, shattered it to somevery ugly pieces, and did as I was bid. It was terrifying,some of the lethal pieces were jutting out about eighteen inches. Frightening. Very much against the law.
But as 'Alex' explained, small pieces could be covered by a thick coat, but only a complete idiot would tackle ours.He was right. We never had another break in! Also therewas no doubt that 'Alex' knew our villains, for nobody ever set our alarm off ever again!
Danny Benjamin, Middlesex, 2002
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