On a shelf between Alexander McQueen shoes, Louis Vuitton handbags and Versace heels in the police evidence room are an 18-inch machete and a serrated zombie knife. Alongside the expensive fashions bought with the proceeds of serious fraud are the tools needed to achieve it, says DCI Paul Curtis.
“These are serious offenders and for whatever reason they felt the need to have these to protect themselves,” he says. Among the other tools are “Sim farms” bought on the dark web, which scammers use to send out numerous text messages at once; stacks of laptops; and mobile phones and payment card readers.
