Sort of reminds me of an incident, back in the mists of time - well, mid 70s - many people in the Markets area of Belfast were in rent arrears. In order to curry favour, the local branch of the IRA visited these properties and gave the tenants the money to settle their debts. Then along comes the rent collector who, no doubt, is a tad astonished to be paid the arrears in full at each and every door he knocked on. Shortly after, he was ambushed, by the IRA naturally, and all the money stolen/reclaimed. Needless to say, as a result of this Robin Hood-ish act, their popularity rose somewhat.