In The Big Heist by Tony Destefano, it’s said that James “Jimmy the Gent” Burke surrounded himself with a group who became experts at watching the way truck traffic moved in and around the airport. Like stealthy cats, they pounced and robbed lucrative cargo at the barrel of a gun.

One place Henry Hill remembered as an outlet where Burke fenced his goods was the Bamboo Lounge, which was right near JFK airport. It was a bazaar for stolen property. Criminals and legitimate customers alike came for the bargains, and there was a long list of items in demand which could get you premiums if you grabbed the right swag.

“Dresses, furs, lobsters, cigarettes, coffee, televisions, watches, jewelry were always in demand, and Burke’s boys always found a way to get them to an army of eager buyers.”