Økonomisk Kriminalitet Nordiske Perspektiver - Scandinavian ...

cased before hand. ”They used a hire car, using a fictitious name or the name of
another person.” 12) The teams had different participants at different times,
depending on place, availability and competence, but they belonged to the same
network. One of them had just one job; changing coins for notes.
A gang from Romania, who did at least 25 spectacular jobs in 2006 and 2007,
specialized in breaking through thick walls and roofs to steal valuable goods from
Norwegian building materials stores, electrical appliances superstores and
electrical goods shops. There were seven of them altogether, with different “jobs”.
One of them was guarding, waiting outside with the burglary tools, while two
specialists were breaking through.
“The point being that if those who were cutting and breaking in had to run to get
away in a hurry, the group would not lose their tools and the tools were vitally
important to be able to continue with the round of break-ins.” (13)
Transport, fencing and money transfers were other specialized functions.
“It was all about crime which specifically targeted electrical and building
supplies/tools, all of which could be easily disposed of. They have displayed
considerable mobility and spread their activities over large parts of Norway. Their
logistics are good and the goods are secured … They have established a good
system for transferring money and communication via mobile telephones, partly in
the names of fictitious persons, ensures anonymity.” 14)
The gangs from Eastern Europe have very few contacts with ethnic Norwegian
criminals, if any at all. The sale of drugs and illegal alcohol takes certain local
contacts. A Russian heavy goods vehicle that showed up with contraband alcohol
in 2000 had to leave with the alcohol. No one trusted them. Stationary organized
crime, like red light districts and illegal distilleries on a factory scale are even
harder in a country where it is almost impossible to pay the local sheriff for
“protection.” Missing links to Norwegian criminal networks may give a certain
protection, though. Most Norwegian criminals have few limits when it comes to
becoming an informer, if they are in trouble with the law. Addicts lack nerves to
do the time. Cynics think business; informing will buy goodwill. The local fence is
a classic risk, sacrificing petty thieves to get off the hook himself. Driving the
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