The record-union., 1891-01-30
TRICKS UPON TRADERS.
How the Shoplifters Pursue Their
NefariOus Calling.
The Experience of Detectives in Large
Cities-A skilled Operator-Workine
the ParasoI Dodge-Promiscuou
Pilferers.

6AODiltUCIS, llStDtludl anu ~ GLASS;
of people who, under strong temptation or
through great need, occasionally commit
petit larceny. The latter class is Almost
invariably excused on confession, apol-
ogy and return of the stolen goods.
1.-THE first class mentioned rarely APP
propriate anything but sealskin cloaks,
pieces of silk, velvet or lace, and jewelry.
They usually wear along, fur-lined circu-
lar in winter and carry muff or UNI
brella, and always travel in pairs, one
watching the floorwalkers and the other
covering the shop girls. If a piece of
silk, lace or velvet is selected worthy of
their efforts, they ask the shop-girl for
another piece not ON the counter; while
her back is turned in search for the goods
they slide that which they have selected
under their cloaks.
TRICKERY OF THIEVES.
another scheme is to push something
off the counter in such way as to scatter.
or unfold it, and while the girl bends to
pick it up they appropriate what they de-
sire. Sometimes they lay dainty hand
kerchief carelessly down over valuable
jewelry and laces and carefully take up
the object with it. A shop-lifter slides
her muff on the left wrist, quickly passes
the small articles she desires into her left
hand, then slips the hand into her mutf.
Umbrellas are tavorite places for con-
cealing small articles, and another favor
lite scheme, particular IN summer, is to
carry on the arm a shawl or wrap, which
is carleSsly thrown down on the counter
over piece of valuable goods and after
wards picked up with the goods inside.
Sealskin Sacques are generally hooked
on a large hook fastened for that purpose
inside shop-lifter's circular, near the
neck. Recently detective watching a
lifted to the step, a sealskin coat hanging
from beneath her dress, and he kindly re-
neved her of it.
"a lady came down the stairs of a large
store with a sealskin jacket carried boldly
over her shoulder. She was seen tearing
the tag Off, suspicion was aroused, and she
was detained. She claimed to have
brought the cloak down to show to a
friend, but as the friend could not be
found, she was rough shadoWed' about
the city through the day, and seen bring
ing handsome cloak out of one store
and a valuable shawl from another in the
same way, which she gave to her accom-
plice outside.
PROMISCUOUS PILFERERS.
"Pilferers will take anything they can
lay their hands on, and seem to steal for
the mere sake of stealing. Perfume,
handkerchiefs, hose, even goblets, butter
dishes and crockery, lambrequins and
fancy articles of all kinds. In their pc k
cts they carry paper and cord. and when
an article is taken they repair to the retir
ing rooms and do it up in a parcel. Some
times they take them into other stores
and ask to have them wrapped up, telling
them some plausible story. A woman
was caught stealing piano cover and was
followed by one of the salesladies, who
allowed the thief to pick her pocket at 81
counter, possess herself of a good stock of
merchandise, and go into another store
where she asked to have the things done
''When brought before the Judge she
proved to be an old offender, and his
Honor remarked: We'll, / see you have
taken the spread. suppose you will steal
lar article for confiscation. They are
easily taken and do not need to be con-
cealed.
1.-Two little children conceived an in
geniouS method of stealing ribbons,
which consisted in carrying little
basket with holes in the bottom, through
which an end of ribbon was passed, and
pulled until they had taken the entire
roll.
KLEPToMANIA.
''Two skilled detectives agree in theory
that the disease known as kleDtomania,
does not exist. When rich woman
steals $50 worth of goods she has klepto-
mania,' said one OF them. and when
poor woman steals 80 cents worth of
bread to feed her starving children she is
thief
'Show me pauper with real bad at
tack of kleptomania and / will believe
that there is such disease, for if there is
why should not the poor be as susceptible
to it as the rich? My impression at pres
ent is that people are born thieves, as they
are born musicians or singers-it is gift,
though a deplorable one, and is accom-
panied by great cunning and sagacity.
Another fact which disproves the klepto-
mania theory is that never in my expert
ence of many years have any goods been
returned or paid for by the friends of peo-
pie afflicted with this imaginary malady-
1t is only when discovered stealing some-
thing that they and all their friends call
them kleptomaniacs. When woman
comes in here and buys a new bonnet
and walks boldly off with it on her head
without paying for it, or takes water
proof off figure and puts it on herself
before us all, know she is a victim of
mental alteration and treat her accord
ingIy.,
If however, there are kleptomaniacs,
one of the best known remedies for them
is found in police court-it is almost Il
sure cure. Many rich women who have
large accounts at stores, and are apparent
ly unlimited as TO money, Will take
twenty-tive-cent articles Surreptitiously
If they can, and the clerks make UP the
deficit in their bills or accounts. 4
wagon load of goods was recovered in
the house of Il rich woman by one firm,
the goods being slowed away under the
servant girls bed, and never having been
used or cut into. But the popularity
among rich shop-lifters lies in the cheap
ness of the articles they pilfer, which
would signify rather diseased mental
condition and desire simply to steal.
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES.
Detectives can usually detect profess
SIGNALS by peculiar alertness and watch
fulnesS, and certain Understandable ey
preston of the eyes, and they can also
distinguish between pickpockets and
shop-litterS. The former 90 about with
downcaSt eyes and sidelong glances until
a victim is determined upon. while the
latter are looking into the faces of the
hoor-walkers and salesmen When de-
tanned professional is quiet and nom
committal, tells a plausible story of re-
spectability. pleads the hackneyed excuse
ef first offense,' and begs not to be
shown up All women, without eycen-
ton, claim responsibility, often tell of
children whose love they viii forfeit. OF
husbands they fear, and nature comes to
their relief with woman's STRONGEST
weapon-tearS.
Sometimes they resist the searchers.
use profane language, and a hand-to-hand
encounter ensues. One woman rtssoIuteiy
backed herself against the wall and Pc
fused TO allow anyone to touch her.
search revealed pocket under her hustle
containing an entire piece of goods.
Another shut herself into a stairway after
leading the detective merry chase for
two blocks, and he was obliged to batter
down the door to secure his prisoner.