DC Radley spots Danny Shea, a well-known villain now back home, and alerts PC Parkin to his presence. He soon finds that Shea has bought a drinks cabinet, paying by cheque, and when he immediately pawns it the furniture shop owner demands action. Radley is quick to suspect fraud on Shea's part, but Parkin urges waiting until a bouncing check provides an actual crime: he wonders if Shea isn't trying the 'Birmingham Con' - deliberately getting himself arrested to sue for damages.