The Long Arm (1956) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

The police suspected the nightwatchman because all 14 safe-breaking jobs across the country were completed using genuine keys. The pattern pointed to someone with insider access to the safe manufacturer's key system, since no forced entry had occurred and the thief seemed to know exactly which safes contained valuable cash.

• nightwatchman
• safe breaking
• insider job
• genuine keys

Gilson was a former employee of the safe manufacturer who spent years systematically duplicating keys for every safe his company produced. Before faking his own death, he used his position to create duplicate keys that could open any of the safes, allowing him to carry out the break-ins without forcing locks.

• duplicate keys
• Gilson
• safe manufacturer
• insider theft

Mrs Elliot was revealed to be Mrs Gilson, the wife of Mr Gilson, the deceased key maker from the safe manufacturer. She was actively involved in her husband's criminal operation, providing logistical support including the use of her car and acting as a lookout during the final heist.

• Mrs Elliot
• Mrs Gilson
• Gilson
• wife
• connection

The getaway car was traced to Mrs Elliot through vehicle registration records after it was found abandoned in a scrapyard. Inside the car, investigators discovered a newspaper that pointed them toward a North Wales garage and the identity of Mr Gilson, linking the crimes to the safe manufacturer.

• getaway car
• hit and run
• traced
• scrapyard
• newspaper

The insurance agent was working with the thief for financial gain. He had access to information about which safes contained significant cash deposits and used this knowledge to tip off the thief in exchange for a share of the proceeds from the break-ins.

• insurance agent
• tip off
• cash
• corruption
• motive

The police learned that the thief targeted safes containing substantial cash, so they coordinated with a Royal Festival Hall safe owner to stage gala nights that would attract large sums of cash stored overnight. By publicizing these events, they created an irresistible target for the thief while positioning detectives to catch him in the act.

• Royal Festival Hall
• trap
• gala nights
• sting operation
• police plan

Gilson faked his own death while employed at the safe manufacturer, allowing him to disappear and operate as the mysterious nightwatchman thief without suspicion. The fake death was convincing enough that the police initially investigated his widow, Mrs Elliot, as an unrelated person until they discovered the connection.

• faked death
• Gilson
• disappeared
• key maker
• investigation

Gilson attempted to break into the Royal Festival Hall safe but found detectives waiting. During the struggle, he punched Detective Sergeant Ward and tried to flee. Meanwhile, Halliday jumped onto the bonnet of Mrs Gilson's car and smashed the windscreen to prevent her from creating an escape route. Both Mr and Mrs Gilson were ultimately arrested.

• final confrontation
• arrest
• ward
• halliday
• gilson
• car chase

A young man on his way to work witnessed the thief climbing over a gate after a break-in and attempted to stop the getaway. The thief struck him with the getaway car, causing fatal injuries. Before dying, the victim managed to pass limited information to the police, helping advance the investigation.

• young man
• hit and run
• witness
• death
• investigation breakthrough

The police visited the safe manufacturer because all 14 break-ins involved the same model of safe opened with genuine keys. They expected to find the key maker responsible, but all current and former staff were cleared, initially stumping the investigation until further clues led them to Gilson's fake death.

• safe manufacturer
• staff cleared
• investigation
• key maker
• clues