When Criminals Watch A Lot Of HBO

Last week, the NYPD announced they had broken up a multi-million dollar drug ring in Queens. Drug busts are always good for news conferences, especially when the NYPD can spread the drugs, guns, and cash recovered, but this bust was particularly interesting: Apparently the drug dealers really loved to watch the HBO drama, The Wire, and would get tips on how to evade the police from the show.

"Believe it or not, these guys copy 'The Wire,'" said [Sgt. Felipe Rodriguez], who is assigned to the Organized Crime Investigation Division. "They were constantly dumping their phones. It made our job so much harder."
Sergeant Rodriguez said several members of the gang were big fans of the HBO show and talked about it constantly. He said that the investigators could catch up on the latest developments in the show, if they hadn't seen it, when members of the gang talked about it the next day. "If we missed anything, we got it from them Monday morning," he said.

That's a new TV recap niche that has yet to be tapped: Recaps for criminals - learn what defense techniques are used on Law & Order, see how Veronica Mars will know you stole the math test. Anyway, besides 43 kilos of coke, half a million in cash, and various other objects seized, the NYPD was also amazed at the loot in one female accomplice's apartment: About $25,000 worth of Prada and Gucci shoes.

Blame not The Wire's creators, as they were just basing it on existing techniques used by criminals (and police). And The Wire is one of the best dramas out there now; it's a sick hope that this story might draw some attention to the show. Please, help Save the Wire.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on January 17, 2005 12:37 PM

Comments [rss]

It's Avon from Jail!

Don't know which is more frustrating: The possible cancellation of the show or it being looked over year after year by GOlden GLobes and Grammy voters while shite like Desperate Housewives and Sex and the City rakes in the hardware.

Dave H.

As for cancellation of the series, it's because Det. Greggs is a lesbian, isn't it?

Dave H.

The Wire is one of the only things that keeps me watching HBO while The Sopranos continues its endless hiatus. It'd be a shame if they cancelled it. One of things that makes it better than HBO's usual original programming are the self-contained season-long story arcs. I love that they don't leave you hanging for 18 months or longer.

Exec Producer David Simon, of course, is the man who wrote Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, thus closing the circle on the Homicide-Tom Fontana-Law&Order-Gothamist-television continuum. I knew there was a reason I keep coming back here.

Clayton

I absolutely love The Wire and it would break my heart if the show was canceled/not renewed...

whatisee

I was totally sucked into the Wire this year and wound up renting the first season to catch up. Great acting and even better are the season long story arcs. It's like watching a 12 hour movie.

the crossfader

lets here it for the writers. holla back.

Relby

It'll be interesting if/when cops start taking cues from the show and creating Hamsterdam-inspired drug commerce zones. Watch out, Red Hook!

BTW, my husband works for HBO and word is that The Powers That Be will decide this week whether or not the show will be renewed...