Le Gallais robbery gang

Le Gallais
robbery gang

The Centenier's record card of the gang

A gang of eight robbers were sentenced to hard labour after stealing around £81 worth of goods from island homes in 1918

Before the gang's sentencing, hundreds of islanders gathered outside the Court in the hope of catching a glimpse of the robbers.

The eight men were caught after stolen goods were discovered by police at the home of Alfred Ricou, one of the gang's members. The trail of evidence had led police officers to his house following complaints about a number of thefts from house sales at which people had bought items that were never delivered.

Le Gallais and Sons

The company at the heart of the case was Alfred’s employer, F Le Gallais and Sons, auctioneers, house furbishers and removal contractors, located at 18 Bath Street, St Helier.

In his witness statement, Carlyle Le Gallais, the owner of the business, detailed the thefts, which took place over a period of 12 months. He said: "In February last we made a sale at Mr Willcox’s shop in Halkett Place on the 1st, on the 12th we had another sale at Belle Vue, Samares and on the 15th at Mr Gaudin’s shop in King Street. After each of these sales complaints were made to us by purchasers that goods bought by them at the sales were missing."

After the initial arrest of Alfred Ricou, investigations continued and on 30 January 1918 at 3 am, the police raided the homes of five other men, arresting them as part of the gang.

In the following two days, two more men were arrested, leading to eight men standing accused on 28 February. The case created significant interest among islanders, as a newspaper reported: "Long before the opening of the hearing there was, in Seale Street, a crowd of several hundred people, who came in the hope of seeing the accused get out of the prison car and enter the yard."

The gang of eight were accused of a series of robberies from their employer and the case was heard during February and March 1918.

£5,000 in today's money

Their employer's statement included a list of the items that were stolen and records also show which items were discovered in each of the men’s houses. The total value of goods stolen was estimated at just over £81, nearly £5,000 in today’s money. Over 80 objects were stolen, they included sheets, curtains, carpets, a hatchet, china figures, dinner services and tea services.

The men were sentenced to between two and 12 months hard labour.