Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(UK Und.) a criminal receiver.

1818		W. Perry London Guide 223: receivers of stolen goods (or, as they are better called by their nick name, Fences and Hedges) .
1823		‘Jon Bee’ Dict. of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 208: Hedge obsolete. See Fence; though hedge is evidently best.