Spectrum 331 and Spectrum 332. Views from street level

Rights Information
Year
1980
Reference
21757
Media type
Audio
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Rights Information
Year
1980
Reference
21757
Media type
Audio
Categories
Documentary radio programs
Nonfiction radio programs
Radio programs
Sound recordings
Duration
00:52:26
Credits
RNZ Collection
Perkins, Jack (b.1940), Producer

Spectrum was a long-running weekly radio documentary series which captured the essence of New Zealand from 1972 to 2016. Alwyn Owen and Jack Perkins produced the series for many years, creating a valuable library of New Zealand oral history.

This two-part Spectrum documentary follows the story of a criminal - of his dyslexia, parental attitudes, petty schoolboy crime, and an almost inevitable path through to highly organised robbery.

Part One

Jack Perkins introduces "Tom", a 25 year old man, who can’t read or write and is currently a career criminal. Perkins reflects on the growing amount of crime and violence in New Zealand today and the inability of people and institutions to deal with social problems.

Tom is dyslexic. He attended a private school, however, the teachers were unhelpful and he felt neglected and unseen. His parents worked and didn’t have much time for Tom at home either. He learnt that doing outrageous things would help him get noticed. His teachers felt he was lazy and didn’t want to learn so Tom spent his days at school drawing. Although he struggled to understand the content he found he was skilled at copying handwriting.

When Tom was 13 he found he was largely friendless. He started going for walks at night to steal the milk money.

Tom left school at 15. His father tried to help him find employment but, not being able to read or write, Tom struggled to get a job and didn’t like the labouring jobs he could get. He enjoyed movies and would sometimes copy the crimes he saw depicted. He spent a long period unemployed where he would steal from parked cars to get by. He found ingenious ways to evade being caught. He then began to commit house burglaries. He found it exciting and challenging, and found he was very good at it. By this time he had contacts who would buy the stolen goods.

Tom describes some of the ways he would break into houses. For as long as it fit him, Tom would wear his school uniform to avoid arousing suspicion. Later, he would wear overalls and pretend to be from the local council. He recalls the kinds of things he would steal; radios, small antiques, and jewellery. He describes the system of fences – people who would buy the stolen goods and then sell them on. Tom asserts a lot of seemingly legitimate shops trade in stole goods.

He talks about becoming involved in violent enforcement for other criminals and eventually having others working for him.

Tom recalls how when the price of gold went up, the demand in the criminal market also increased. Antiques continue to be good business. In order to sell these things safely, Tom tells Perkins that if something was stolen in Auckland it would be sold in Wellington or Christchurch, and usually behind the counter. Sometimes pieces even go overseas.

Part Two

By the mid 1970’s, drugs had become a large part of New Zealand’s criminal underworld. They became increasingly a part of Tom’s world too. Tom was about 20 when he started selling heroin, and making a lot of money. He began to use heroin himself and found himself increasingly involved in violent confrontations.

Since the break-up of the "Mr Asia" drug ring, heroin has been in short supply. Tom believes that in time, the trade will pick up again.

Perkins observes that murders are common in Australia, the UK and America and wonders why it hasn’t happened in New Zealand. Tom suggests that its because New Zealand is a small country with stricter gun laws but that violence is increasing.

Perkins asks about police corruption. To Tom’s knowledge there is some corruption, mostly in the government with people being paid large amounts of money to overlook certain things.

At one point in his life, Tom was receiving shipments of illegal firearms to sell. Tom predicts police in the future having to wear guns. Tom doesn’t like to speculate why people were buying guns off him. But there were some instances he would describe as politically motivated.

Tom was also involved in the car racket. People who wanted a certain make and model of car would enlist Tom to help. He would re-stamp the engine and register the car as a new vehicle. It’s a slow but steady business. Tom will steal two cars in order to swap around parts, like seats and steering wheels, to lessen its likelihood as being recognized.

The show closes as Tom reflects on his future. Tom has made a lot of money but he can’t spend it. He thinks that one day he’ll leave New Zealand with his freedom. He’s only taken from people who can afford it.