From Rooftops to Prince Street
Anthony Pino had considered robbing Brink’s while the company still occupied premises on Federal Street in Boston. Those early plans did not proceed. When Brink’s moved to 165 Prince Street in December 1948, the gang began studying the new building. Members used binoculars from nearby roofs to study the patterns of lights and employees. They also entered after working hours and temporarily removed lock cylinders to obtain matching keys. Investigators later found a shopkeeper who remembered making keys for Pino on several evenings in autumn 1949.
Preparations extended beyond the doors. A green Ford truck was stolen in November 1949. During November and December, the men practiced their approach and escape route. Vincent Costa observed the Brink’s offices from a rooftop, carrying a flashlight for signals. Several attempted approaches were abandoned when conditions were unsuitable, including one on January 16, 1950.
The following evening, gang members assembled in Roxbury and traveled in the truck, with Joseph Banfield driving. Armed robbers entered the Brink’s premises while employees were closing. The workers were restrained with rope and tape. The intruders wore masks, gloves, chauffeur’s caps, and dark outer clothing. They carried away more than $1.2 million in cash and another $1.5 million in checks and securities.
A garage attendant rang a buzzer while the robbery was underway, then walked away without being captured. The robbers could not open a metal box holding a General Electric payroll because they had brought no tools. After they departed, the employees freed themselves and reported the crime. The truck carried the stolen property to the home of Adolph Maffie’s parents in Roxbury.
This excerpt and its puzzle come from the finished edition. Authoritative sources are linked below.