The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-27
TRICKS OF SHOPLIFTERS.
NEW AND INGENIOUS DODGEs OF
WCMEN WHO ROB STORES.

bag Is Still in Use-Ths Baby Scheme
Is Popular, But the Lates. Trick
Comes From Paris and Consists of a
Garter Strung With Sharp steel
Books, on Which the Stolen Goods
Are Hung.
From the Chicago Times.
The arrest the other day by the female
detective Of big dry goods emporium Of
a shoplifter who wes successfully work
ing the "baby trick has again called the
attention of the police authorities to this
most common and persistent class Of crimi-
nails.
The detectives employed by all the lead
ing dry goods stores say that a large por-
ton Of the women who steal from the count
era take only articles which they need for
their personal use.
These are generally ribbons, gloves, jew
elry, and the like, which are easily con-
cealed in one or another OF the neat little
contrivances which are constantly being adj
ded to the list OF 'h'isting kicks" as the de-
tectives call the false pockets which shop
liftersaffect
The old fashioned pocket, which was
made Of muslin, was so big that when fast
ened under the dress il reached below the
knees There Is long opening through the
dress lust below the waistband, sometimes
big enough to thrust baby in. This opens
ing ia covered from view by flap Of the
waist, which can be lifted up. Sometimes
these rockets are found to contain almost
enough merchandise, the detective says,
60 start a small shop.
Large pockets are seldom used nowadays
because most stores are so carefully watched
that professional shoplifters are perforce
contented with smaller daily hauls than
formerly. Besides, modern fashions do not
Kermit of the safe gathering of much bulk
about the person Of the shoplifter.
Among the tricks that have been adopted
since the big pocket became obsolete are
palming aud sleeve work. Skill is easily
acquired in these, and, BESIDES the trick is
hard to discover.
Palming consists in taking several small
articles up together in the hand and then
replacing all but one on the COUNTER The
article retained is held IN the palm Of the
hand, which is partly closed to grasp it.
Great proficiency is soon acquired by
women with flexible hands, he declared,
and some of them can hold gold pin, ring,
or other small article safely in this way,
yet give the back Of their hand and their
fingers the appearance OF being unbent.
Pa!ming Is much practiced at the big jew-
elry stores as q means of hiding stolen ar
tic!es until q favorable moment is found
for disposing Of them in convenient places
on the person.
The innocent looking black silk bag or
reticule, which is nowadays in such COM
mon use Is extensively called Unto play by
amateurs, the detective said. IL requires
10 skill whatever to manipulate them for
shOplifting purposes, he says. The shop
litter sits down at the jewelry or handker-
chief or ribbon counter aud examines the
articles displayed there.
When the salesgirls are busy it is easy to
ind an opportunity to push something over
the edge of the counter in the open mouth
Of the bag, which is held in the lap. When
satisfied that no more can be taken without
erousing suspicion the shoplifter arises,
takes hold OF the gather-strings Of the bag,
which is drawn together by its own weight,
and carelessly strolls off
On wet days the umbrella trickn Is
brought iuto play. The umbrella, which is
always a large one, is leaned against the
counter by the operator and serves as q
safe receptacle for whatever articles op-
portunity affords for the operator to rake
into it.
In one uptown store few days ago a
shoplitter who had been working this trick
became very fearful Of discovery au
started TO leave the store. It was raining
at the time, and in her agitation she forget
fully hoIsted her umbrella in the doorway,
and was at once enveloped in shower OF
cred silk. Amateur shoplifters are also be-
coming very skillful in secretinR articles
under their bonnets and in their bosoms.
They do this on the preteXt of arranging
the garment and often do it successfully
under the eyes of some sharp-eyed girl de-
tectlve who is pretending to examine goods
behind them, but who cannot see the stolen
articles though she may be convinced that
something has been concealed.
"One OF the very newest and most suc-
cesstul tricks resorted to by well-dressed
women said a detective to u New York
Morntag Journal reporter, sis to conceal
stolen articles under their clothes by hitch
ing them TO their carriers"
The garter trick" as it is called was
LATELY introduced here by an expert Partisan
Snopitter, who had been run out OF France
10y the police. The carriers are made very
strong and are clasped well below the knee
SeweI TO the elastic are a number of small
steel hooks, on which the stolen articles are
hung
8 The detective had apprehended the French
q woman, he said, arrestiug her for her sus-
81 p'c1us actions principally, and when ste
was searched by a girl detective a god
CaAl, pair OF sleeve buttons on card, a
u SIX handkerchief, and length Of valuable
idoe we're among the articles found hung TO
her garters like clothes on q line. The ring
q ana glove" is another trick which has be-
come very popular of late among both
amateur and professional women shoplift-
ers
is usually worked at iewelry stores
81 where the size of the article to be stolen is
N inverse ratio to its price. The shop
q inter, In working this trick, carries a pair
VI g+untlet gloves in her left hand, SO dis
Il posing thrm thAt the wrisg opening of the
q upper glove is tapped open like the mouth
c. a small bag.
approaching the jewelry counter the fair
tAef, who is generally so dainJilY dressed
aa W avert suspicion, picks up a ring in her
tiSlt hand, and examines it intentlY.
Il gttaual!y she moves it about until she
noidS the ring directly over the opening in
.le glove and about foo5 above it. When
u VI, clerk turns his head she lets the ring
tai INTO the opening and goes on examin-
As second ring which she has picked up
@'u the first one, but has heretofore kept
''Hrslled under Der fiogsr5.
AItor time she lays the second ring
R8av
another new trick is to pick up an empty
81 paper bag, such as is used in the store,
qua lstendit hy blowing into it, SO that
- ',oEs as il we're full, The air is then
toeela2ed with stolen articles as opportunity