Der Zinker (1931)

Scotland Yard receives anonymous letters at regular intervals containing precise information about planned jewel thefts or wanted criminals. Inspector Elford believes the informant is the so-called Zinker. The unscrupulous criminal betrays troublesome rivals with whom he cannot reach an agreement. When Juwelen-Harry, whom the police had questioned about the Zinker shortly beforehand, is murdered outside car dealer Frank Sutton’s office, the investigator is certain that the Zinker is responsible for a whole series of other unsolved crimes. The Zinker warns Beryl Stedman, Sutton’s niece, about her fiancé, Charles Tillmann, an employee of the car-export company. During a phone call, valuable pearl jewelry is stolen from Frank Sutton at the Leopard Club. Following an anonymous tip, the police find the jewelry with Tillmann and arrest him. Since the police believe he is innocent, they release him. A little later, Frank Sutton, who had wanted to set a trap for the Zinker, is found poisoned at the Leopard Club. The police eventually manage to get on the Zinker’s trail. When he jumps into a car and flees, a shootout ensues. The stranger speeds through a bridge railing in the burning car and plunges down. At last, the approaching police are able to unmask and arrest the unscrupulous criminal. It is the reporter Joshua Harras.