World War 2 was a time when Dunedin citizens pulled together to battle Jerry and generally came together for King and country. Well ... most people. Criminals kept doing their thing, but, as David Loughrey has uncovered, it was a different class of con in the good old days.
The past is a better world.
The past is better dressed, better behaved, has a quiet dignity and, in still photographs at least, moves a lot slower.
Criminality in the past also had a little more class.
Criminals wore a shirt and tie and hat, respected their mothers and kept their criminal dens tidy.
A snapshot of criminal activity in the war years, uncovered after a search through the Dunedin City Council archives, shows a strain of criminality that was far removed from a smash-and-grab theft of a big-screen television or a tobacco hold-up at a dairy.
Instead, the archives show a breed of practical criminals not shy of a night-time heist, or even a worthy building project, as we shall see.
On September 9, 1939, although he did not know it, James (surname removed to protect the privacy of historical figures) had an imminent appointment with the Dunedin police.
On that very day, at an unknown location, a shadowy figure was composing a letter aimed at exposing his darkest secrets.
''Dear Sir'', the writer began his letter to the city engineer.
''You have a man by the name of James [redacted] working on the Drainage Board as a labourer.
''I know for a fact that he has taking [sic] no less than two lots of cement of [sic] the job, and also kerosene.
''If you go to his home at 16 Brook St, you will find the things there.''
Ominously, the secretive author of this text signed off ''From one who knows''.
Authorities of the day did not let the grass grow under their feet when it came to putting some serious resources into investigating the matter.
We know on September 13, 1939, two detectives, Gibson and McDougall, turned up at offices of the city engineer inquiring as to the make of the cement and any special markings it might have had.
Records show they were told the cement was of the Milburn brand, and the kerosene from ''major oil companies''.
''Detective Gibson said that he would see Inspector Richan in the course of investigating the complaint against the labourer named in this anonymous letter.''
From there, that strand of the historical trail goes cold, but the embers of criminality do not completely die.
It is not clear what James wanted to do with the cement, but records from just four years later may point to repeat offending, and a motive.
In 1943 the city engineer's office informed the town clerk of an incident in which ''some unauthorised persons removed a quantity of timber from a dwelling''.
''Portions of walling which were left standing on Friday evening, 30th April, 1943, was taken down and removed, as was also a quantity of wooden ceiling ...''
The address? - 14 Brook St.
And consider these crimes:On May 31, 1940, a water department workman's hut at Mt Grand was relieved of a waterproof coat, a pair of pliers, a shifting spanner and three hacksaw blades.
On August 28, 1941, two lengths of Oregon timber were taken from a hut where kerb and channel works were being undertaken in Norman St, Andersons Bay.
On October 28, 1941, 12 gallons of petrol were stolen from a Chaseside loading shovel in Sturdee St, possibly to aid transport for the criminal or criminals.
On November 10, 1941, a raincoat and three-foot rule were taken from a hut at the southern reservoir.
This is clearly a series of crimes with just one intention - a slow accumulation of materials with which to build a dwelling.
Not only did these criminals want to build in Dunedin, they cared about health and safety, and were keen for the right footwear to be worn on their building site.
Consider this crime, early on in their spree, as reported to the drainage engineer by the deputy drainage engineer.
Sir:
Mr. Harrison, Secretary of the General Labourers' Union, telephoned me on Saturday, 7th December, that he had a complaint from Messrs. S. Walker and Thomas, employees of the drainage board, that their boots were stolen from a hut (I understand on the Foreshore - probably on the extension of Wilkie Rd sewer).
He asked if these employees could be reimbursed for their loss.
We may never know whether new boots were ordered, or how successful Detectives Gibson and McDougall were at stamping out these crimes.
We may never know which Dunedin home was built by this hard-working team of builder-criminals, with their three-foot rule, their hacksaw blades, raincoats, timber, Sturdee St petrol and sturdy boots.
Maybe you live there now.
But we do know the time is ripe for Dunedin to return to the morals and values of a period when even theft and dishonesty were for a good cause.
It would be criminal not to.