A great many arrests of organized crime figures are called “midnight arrests,” or more likely those made between 2 and 4 A.M. Mobsters so arrested have been zeroed in as potential informers who would be ready to make a deal with authorities to avoid their own prosecution.
By taking such a suspect into custody in the wee hours of the morning, authorities are letting them have more time to think about making a deal since it is unlikely his criminal confederates will know immediately that he is in custody.
Realistically, some observers regard these postmidnight arrests as a cunning method to put added pressure on a possible informer. He knows that his criminal associates understand the tactic. Thus the arrestee understands the rest of the mob will figure that the authorities regard him as a weak link.
They will wonder why that is so. Additionally the arrestee has to wonder what the mob will do about it when he later turns up and claims he has said nothing. The mob seldom operates on the honor system and the more the man thinks about it, the more logical it seems that he should flip.
