Fred and his mate Alf were two thieves who robbed Gamma Garments' Rosamund Street branch of its surplus stock by posing as drivers employed by the firm to take the items to its Lancaster Street branch on the supposed orders of head office.
At that time Leonard Swindley was absent from the shop and Emily Nugent and Doreen Lostock were in charge. Fred, the better-looking of the two, turned on his considerable charms and the two ladies fell for his patter hook, line and sinker. While Fred poured compliments upon Doreen by saying how well she would look on a French beach or in a posh casino, Emily assisted the younger Alf take the six-dozen boxes out to his van. Fred momentarily slipped up when he almost claimed not to know who Mr Papagopolous was but soon recovered his composure, not that it mattered as the ladies were too entranced by his looks to notice. The two men hastily left once the van was full and it was only when Emily reported the matter to their owner that they discovered how they had been taken in.
Deeply depressed that someone of Fred's charms could be a crook, the two women claimed not to remember much about his appearance when questioned by Det. Sgt. Shorrocks and tried to draw his attention to Alf, saying he was the older of the two men and the unquestioned leader.
The stolen stock was recovered by the police in a disused warehouse near Central Station, although Fred and Alf were not apprehended.