The River Thames was filled with activity in the eighteenth century, both legal and illegal. There were a great many tradesmen that made their living off the river, as well as a great many thieves and swindlers. The river was often crowded with boats, and so there was ample opportunity to board them unnoticed while they waited for a dock to clear. Smuggling was common, although it is not generally seen as a crime in the traditional sense. The smugglers did not actually steal property, they simply brought it into the country unnoticed and avoided paying heavy taxes. Thieves certainly were present, however. These criminals took advantage of the long periods when ships dropped anchor to board them, take the goods, and depart. There was no police force, and the closest thing to security was the customs service, which had enough trouble with smuggling to worry about other crimes (Martin, 71). As with other enforcement-type jobs, they were underpaid and generally not physically qualified to fight crime. With the ease of pickings and the lack of law enforcement, the river was a popular place for hungry criminals who were undeterred by the possibility of receiving a death sentence for their crimes.