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The Fence: In the Shadow of Two Worlds
This book is based on the experiences of a dealer in stolen goods (alias 'Sam Goodman'), whose history serves as a model for understanding the role that fences play in today's society. In his straightforward and colorful analysis of underground life, Steffensmeier analyzes how a fence initiates and sustains relationships with thieves, customers, and other fences, how he sets and negotiates prices, the profits he enjoys, the skills required for his job, and the meaning and rewards of fencing. The author relates the circumstances leading to Sam's 'fall'--his eventual arrest and conviction for receiving stolen property. His field interviews are supplemented with court records and newspaper accounts, interviews of thieves and customers who had contact with Sam, several other fences, and law enforcement officials. In addition to documenting the lifestyle of a fascinating criminal life, the author shows how crime is intricately woven into the fabric of society, in which thieves and fences share many similarities in skills and behavior with those of legitimate businessmen. Sociologists, criminologists, law enforcement officers, and public policy makers will find this book an enlightening and engaging portrayal of the criminal career.
295 pages, Hardcover
First published June 28, 1986
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February 22, 2022
I recently decided to bring up the topic of stolen merchandise while speaking with a shopkeeper. I'm sure that this made her suspicious of my intentions. The reason I brought it up was because some guy in my hometown was accused of running a fencing/thieving ring out of his pawn shop. I just couldn't get the topic off of my mind and I was dying for a chance to ask someone.
As I thought more about it, I convinced myself that there had to be at least one narrative released as a successor to Oliver Twist. Turns out, there was not. Sure, some really dry academic and legal research, and some really exciting stories that are almost completely fictional and don't revolve around fences.
This is the book that is most likely to scratch this specific itch. It was written in the 1980s by a researcher at Penn State and covered the career of an anonymous burglar-turned-fence in one "American City," chiefly in the early to mid 1970s before the 3rd or 4th time he got sent to prison. The fence was born in 1930 or so, and his language is almost an embellishment of Holden Caulfield's. If nothing else, the book masterfully preserves language used by criminals in that time period.
The Fence had immense potential and largely delivered. It shines as an ethnographic portrait of thievery and the distribution networks of stolen goods, but the narrative stalls quite a bit by halfway through. As the story goes on (--it often doesn't progress logically, since other themes and academic bolstering are required), you start to realize that this guy was really just a high-status criminal in a mid-tier city. He didn't really make *that* much money, people he trusted ratted him out, his friends even infer that his female companion was second rate.
One of the most fascinating insights from the book is that one of the justifications the fence comes up with is that his presence helps small retailers compete with big-box stores like K-Mart. A really interesting hypothesis that, probably, nobody has covered before or sense.
The push-pull of this book is whether fences instigate thievery, or if fences only exist out of necessity to deal with the collateral of burglary/robbery/"hijacking," etc. The fence provides a detailed explanation and justification. The author didn't really structure the book in a way that he could actually challenge the criminal on any points, it was more of a deflated "here's what the fence said, he played hardball, here is what I think" at the very, very tail end of the book. One other thing I was expecting to read about was how violent crime relates to procuring stolen goods (actual hijacking, home invasions, assault & murder), but this was not even mentioned. A missed opportunity, for sure. (note on hijacking: use of this term by the guys in the book pretty much just meant breaking into an idling truck, not threatening or using force against a driver).
This book strikes a rare balance without being corrupted by commercial influences. It kept my attention throughout and provided a wealth of knowledge on a topic that has very little written in collaboration with primary sources and arranged by academics.
---
The details in this story were heavily redacted and modified so as to obfuscate who any of these people were and where they were operating. It seemed that facts and figures were also deliberately doctored. So, you're left wondering, who was this and where did the bulk of this guy's career (in "American City") take place?
It's obviously in the eastern US, which is evident due to the presence of Italian mafia and also many references to a Jewish mafia. The guy interviewing him is a professor from Penn State, so the prisoner being in northern New England or below the states bordering PA to the south is highly unlikely. Also, the researcher seemed to have been familiar with lower-level criminals in the region (who ultimately referred him to the subject "Sam Goodman") so it couldn't have been all that far from home.
At one point in the book I could have sworn they mentioned--and forgot to redact--that they were only about "one hour" from Pittsburgh. Estimating the size of town from various descriptions and modified facts and figures, this makes Akron, Ohio the most likely candidate. Ignoring the Pittsburgh reference (maybe I misread it), there are frequent mentions of a beach town. This brings us a bit eastward, likely east of State College, PA.
So, in PA, the only logical metro areas could be Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (where I grew up) or Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton (where I went to college). I don't think it's either of these places, because the author also makes a point to mention how many Puerto Ricans were moving in. In the late 60s or early 70s, it's highly doubtful this would have been mentioned when talking about the demographics of a second-tier Pennsylvanian town. We have to be talking about a place way closer to NYC. I thought Syracuse fit the bill for a while but that, too, wouldn't have seen an influx of Puerto Ricans.
Anyway, my final guess would be Hartford, CT or Elizabeth or Paterson, NJ. They did do a really good job of hiding any association with nearby big cities.
As I thought more about it, I convinced myself that there had to be at least one narrative released as a successor to Oliver Twist. Turns out, there was not. Sure, some really dry academic and legal research, and some really exciting stories that are almost completely fictional and don't revolve around fences.
This is the book that is most likely to scratch this specific itch. It was written in the 1980s by a researcher at Penn State and covered the career of an anonymous burglar-turned-fence in one "American City," chiefly in the early to mid 1970s before the 3rd or 4th time he got sent to prison. The fence was born in 1930 or so, and his language is almost an embellishment of Holden Caulfield's. If nothing else, the book masterfully preserves language used by criminals in that time period.
The Fence had immense potential and largely delivered. It shines as an ethnographic portrait of thievery and the distribution networks of stolen goods, but the narrative stalls quite a bit by halfway through. As the story goes on (--it often doesn't progress logically, since other themes and academic bolstering are required), you start to realize that this guy was really just a high-status criminal in a mid-tier city. He didn't really make *that* much money, people he trusted ratted him out, his friends even infer that his female companion was second rate.
One of the most fascinating insights from the book is that one of the justifications the fence comes up with is that his presence helps small retailers compete with big-box stores like K-Mart. A really interesting hypothesis that, probably, nobody has covered before or sense.
The push-pull of this book is whether fences instigate thievery, or if fences only exist out of necessity to deal with the collateral of burglary/robbery/"hijacking," etc. The fence provides a detailed explanation and justification. The author didn't really structure the book in a way that he could actually challenge the criminal on any points, it was more of a deflated "here's what the fence said, he played hardball, here is what I think" at the very, very tail end of the book. One other thing I was expecting to read about was how violent crime relates to procuring stolen goods (actual hijacking, home invasions, assault & murder), but this was not even mentioned. A missed opportunity, for sure. (note on hijacking: use of this term by the guys in the book pretty much just meant breaking into an idling truck, not threatening or using force against a driver).
This book strikes a rare balance without being corrupted by commercial influences. It kept my attention throughout and provided a wealth of knowledge on a topic that has very little written in collaboration with primary sources and arranged by academics.
---
The details in this story were heavily redacted and modified so as to obfuscate who any of these people were and where they were operating. It seemed that facts and figures were also deliberately doctored. So, you're left wondering, who was this and where did the bulk of this guy's career (in "American City") take place?
It's obviously in the eastern US, which is evident due to the presence of Italian mafia and also many references to a Jewish mafia. The guy interviewing him is a professor from Penn State, so the prisoner being in northern New England or below the states bordering PA to the south is highly unlikely. Also, the researcher seemed to have been familiar with lower-level criminals in the region (who ultimately referred him to the subject "Sam Goodman") so it couldn't have been all that far from home.
At one point in the book I could have sworn they mentioned--and forgot to redact--that they were only about "one hour" from Pittsburgh. Estimating the size of town from various descriptions and modified facts and figures, this makes Akron, Ohio the most likely candidate. Ignoring the Pittsburgh reference (maybe I misread it), there are frequent mentions of a beach town. This brings us a bit eastward, likely east of State College, PA.
So, in PA, the only logical metro areas could be Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (where I grew up) or Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton (where I went to college). I don't think it's either of these places, because the author also makes a point to mention how many Puerto Ricans were moving in. In the late 60s or early 70s, it's highly doubtful this would have been mentioned when talking about the demographics of a second-tier Pennsylvanian town. We have to be talking about a place way closer to NYC. I thought Syracuse fit the bill for a while but that, too, wouldn't have seen an influx of Puerto Ricans.
Anyway, my final guess would be Hartford, CT or Elizabeth or Paterson, NJ. They did do a really good job of hiding any association with nearby big cities.
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