I know someone whose family founded a small retail chain (with like 5 shops or something, each operated by another relative) in an east European country shortly after the fall of the iron wall that is, well, pretty much associated with mafia-like structures.
According to her after the initial mayhem they did have a group establish themselves that was more “mafia” like. Think black suits,old Mercedes Benz cars,etc.
They actually had a “emergency number” they were supposed to call and where someone picked up 24/7. And according to her someone actually came - unlike the police back then (who also wanted money). They responded fairly fast - and to them it seemed like they actually at least tried to find perpetrators.
But they were never quite sure if some of the people who robbed them were actually sent by these groups themselves to prove how much the shops needed protection.
Over the times things got more extreme and the “group” only wanted money to protect people from themselves - possibly because drugs got involved and the “thugs” got younger.
But at least then the police stepped up their game and did more.
From what I understand,yes, but she said “they showed us a guy they beat to pulp, he said he is sorry. But the guy wore a ski mask when he robbed my aunt. How should we know if it was him or if that was just some homeless person?”
I know someone whose family founded a small retail chain (with like 5 shops or something, each operated by another relative) in an east European country shortly after the fall of the iron wall that is, well, pretty much associated with mafia-like structures.
According to her after the initial mayhem they did have a group establish themselves that was more “mafia” like. Think black suits,old Mercedes Benz cars,etc. They actually had a “emergency number” they were supposed to call and where someone picked up 24/7. And according to her someone actually came - unlike the police back then (who also wanted money). They responded fairly fast - and to them it seemed like they actually at least tried to find perpetrators. But they were never quite sure if some of the people who robbed them were actually sent by these groups themselves to prove how much the shops needed protection. Over the times things got more extreme and the “group” only wanted money to protect people from themselves - possibly because drugs got involved and the “thugs” got younger. But at least then the police stepped up their game and did more.
Did they (the gangs who asked for protection money) actually ever catch the people responsible or blamed to be responsible?
From what I understand,yes, but she said “they showed us a guy they beat to pulp, he said he is sorry. But the guy wore a ski mask when he robbed my aunt. How should we know if it was him or if that was just some homeless person?”