The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-07-24
THE WAYS OF sHoPLIFTERs.

"Do you cause the arrest Of many
shopliitcrs ?" 4 New York tradesman
| was asked.
"Yes, good many, but not all, by
any means. We don't disturb persons
unless we have the most positive proof
Of their guilt. When the article stolen
is trine We watch the woman so as to
remember her face, but usually do moth.
ing more. Not infrequently We see
thefts committed by women that we be-
lieve are not habitually trespassers, but
were urged on by too strong temptation
and poverty. Such women we take to
a private room. We tell them our sus-
picion. II they confess and give us
what prove to be their right names and
addresses we let them go. But all this
is very delicate matter, and to make a
mistake is very dangerous. You must
know that shoplifters are generally
among the best dressed and most res
pcctable looking woman that come in
our store. stood at the second-story
skylight one day looking aimlessly down
on the first floor. ! saw two elegantly
dressed women putting away rolls of silk
ribbon. / watched them, and there
wasn't any doubt about it. | fastened
down and told the floor walker. He
was as,oundcd. Ipcrsisted and he spoke
To- the women. They were violently
indignant. As they walked toward the
door We saw them throw the rolls Of rib
bon among some boxes between two
counters. We had them followed. -
They lived in an elegant brown-stonc
house in Forty-eighth street.
professional shopliitcrs," continued
the speaker, every often wear great
cloaks. They can put away good deal
under them. by raising their folded
aims under their cloaks they conceal
the added size the stolen articles give
,hS" Th"y have pocket made in the
front of their dresses big enough to
hold number OF large packages. Why,
when We unloaded woman here one
day we took out of that pocket all tha,
good-sized boy could carry on his out
stretched arms. remember how indig-
nant that woman was when accused.
IL was walking through the store one
day when 4 clerk told me he thought 4
woman he was serving had stolen some
l.cghorn hats. walked up to her and
raised one of her arms suddenly. Twen-
ty-one hats fell to the floor. You know
what I.cghorn hats are. They are made
OF kind OF grass and fold close toge,h-
cr. She said that she had picked them
up on the floor and was going 10 put
them where the rest OF the hats were kept.
We arrested her.
1.-The hands OF an experienced shop
litter work faster then the eyes of an
observer. \ central Office detective
standing in the store one day saw wo.
man putting away silk handkerchiefs.-
She'd hold one up Is il to examine il,
and then she'd suddenly pass il into her
other hand and then into 4 big front
pocket with such ligh;ning-like rapidi,y
that the detective couldn't tell what she
WAS doing. but he thought she WAS put
ting them back on the counter. He
made study OF the subject and caught
her. Shopliiicrs often steal Our valises
and baskets. and then go round the store
filling them up. We know good many
in the profession.
"rhc worst thing shopliiters do" he
said in conclusion. ''is 10 steal from our
customers. They are very fond of tax
ing pocketbooks and valises. We would
great deal rather they would steal from
tS, for their victims are sure TO give 4
store where they are robbed bad repu-
ia,ion. Not long ago lady who had
SI.S in silver in valisc rested il on the
counter moment and it disappeared.
She found an old one in its place. We
believed that the thieves who took il,
knew that she had the money. and had
followed her for long distance"
Coop ADVICE TO MARRIED PEoPLE.-
4 worthy wife of forty years standing,
and whose life was not made of sunshine
and peace. gave the following and i'm
prcssivc advice to married pair of her
acquaintance. The advice is SO good
and well suited to all married people rs
well rs those entering that state, that We
here publish it for the benefit of such
persons:
Preserve sacrcdly the privacics OF
your own house. your married state and
your heart Let no father, mother, sis.
ter .or brother ever presume TO come
between you, or share the joys or sor-
rows, that belong TO you two alone
With mutual help build your quiet word,
not allowing your dearest friend to be
a.. -. r. .l.c, 80 ,,,rL, ,h ~ h.rnu,as vn,,r
domestic peace. Let moments OF alien
alton, il they occur, be healed at once.
Never, no never, speak Of il outside, but
to each other confess, and all will come
out right. Never let the morrow's sun
still find you at variance. Renew and
renew your vow it will do you good,
and thereby your minds will grow to-
gethcr, contcnted in that love which is
stronger than death, and you will be-
-.