1901 Wollongong Undercover Operation: Constable Dresses as Woman to Catch Blackmailer
In a remarkable historical case from 1901, Constable Faunce of the Wollongong police force may have been the first local officer to go undercover by dressing as a woman. This unusual tactic was employed to apprehend a blackmailer who had stolen valuable items and deeds from an ironmonger, leading to a dramatic arrest on a beach.
The Crime and Blackmail Scheme
In the early hours of February 25, 1901, an intruder broke into the premises of ironmonger Sarah Parsons in Wollongong. The offender stole electroplated items, £5 in cash, and deeds to land at Balgownie. Senior Sergeant Banks investigated the scene, finding a shattered office window with bloodstains and ransacked drawers and desks.
A few days later, Mrs Parsons received a letter in the mail demanding a reward for the return of the deeds. The blackmailer instructed her not to involve the police and to post the reward amount in her shop window. Initially offering £5, she complied, but the blackmailer later demanded she double it to £10, which she did.
The Undercover Sting Operation
Mrs Parsons reported the blackmail to Sgt Banks, who devised a plan involving Constable Faunce. With no female police officers available at the time—the first in the state would not be hired for another 14 years—Faunce agreed to dress in Mrs Parsons' clothing and impersonate her at a meeting arranged by the blackmailer.
On the night of March 8, 1901, Faunce walked down Crown Street in a dress, hat, parasol, and handbag, while Banks and Constable Noble hid in nearby bushes. Just before 9 pm, a masked man in an overcoat approached, circling the beach before handing over a brown parcel. Faunce then pounced, knocking him to the ground, with the other officers rushing in to assist.
The Arrest and Aftermath
The culprit, George Alfred Pluck, a 26-year-old confectioner, did not resist arrest. He confessed to the crime and led police to his shop, where the stolen electroplated items were recovered under canvas, though the money had been spent. Pluck claimed he acted alone, using "we" in his letters to appear more threatening.
In court, it was revealed that Pluck was a religious man who sang in St Michael's choir, leading some newspapers to label him a hypocrite. He was found guilty and sentenced to 12 months in prison, with an additional six months if he could not provide a bond for good behavior. Constable Faunce later transferred to Penrith, though it is unclear if this move was related to teasing from colleagues about his undercover role.
This case highlights an early example of creative police work in Wollongong, blending historical intrigue with local law enforcement efforts to combat crime in the community.
