the expedient of robbing the smugglers he might meet on the road, taking care not to attack a gang, but only a solitary traveller, as chance might throw such in his way; and even then his robbery was effected with a show of justice, as he represented himself to be deputed by the customs, and seized the property in the king’s name.
Thrown out of this kind of business, he formed one of a gang of deer-stealers, the principal part of whose depredations were committed on Epping Forest and the parks in its neighbourhood; but this business not succeding to the expectations of the robbers, they determined to commence housebreakers. Their plan was to fix on houses which they presumed contained any valuable property; and while one of them knocked at the door, the others were to rush in, and seize what-ever they might deem worthy of their notice. The first attack of this kind was at the house of Mr. Strype, an old man, who kept a chandler’s shop at Watford, whom they robbed of all the money and other valuables in his possession, but without offering the inmates any personal abuse.
In one night this gang robbed Chinkford and Barking churches of all the moveables left in the vestries; but the plate at both places being in the hands of the respective churchwardens, they got an indifferent booty! Turpin and some of his companions eluded the search that was made after them: three of the gang, however, were taken, one of whom turned evidence, and the other two were transported.
