Rich Zahradnik

In its 120th year, the pickpocket and confidence squad, the oldest detective unit in the NYPD, was struggling because of staff shortages and rising crime. The number of detectives had been cut to nine from 19, while complaints involving pickpockets and confidence games jumped 5,000, topping 19,000 in 1976. The bunco squad estimated picked pockets and con games hauled in $5 million a year, more than triple that lost in bank robberies. Only one detective team was on patrol at any time covering all five boroughs.
–Brought to you by Lights Out Summer, set in 1977, coming Oct. 1.

Source: New York Times