The wanted posters offered a £500 reward for information that might lead to a team of ruthless criminals: "Peter Piatkok, a native of Russia, an Anarchist ? complexion sallow; Joe Levi ? foreign appearance, speaking fairly good English, thickish lips, erect carriage ? A woman aged 26-27, fairly full breasts, sallow complexion, face somewhat drawn ... Foreign appearance." The posters appeared almost exactly 100 years ago, not far from the area of London about to host the Olympic Games which, the Metropolitan police suggested last week, have now been targeted for easy pickings by predatory eastern European gangs.

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