The "crook quotes" were the phrases found under each crook's name in the Dossiers. The quotes were a type of cryptic clue. You substitute city puzzle answers for words in the clue and follow the resulting directions found in the clue. ACME Mad person holds up field work party DAME ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE LABOR TORY = MEDIA LABORATORY (DAME anagrammed holds AI backwards and LABOR; then TORY)