The morning times., 1895-12-08
DEFT FINGERS WILL WeRK
Two Classes Of Crooks Who Wei
come the Holidays.
THIEVES AMONG THRONGS
Shoplifters and PiokpOckets Reap Col
den Harvests From Christmas Shop
pers-Crowded Stores Their Para
disc. Careless People Their Angels.
Their Methods of Operating.

| In all the great cities OF the country thsrs
are two classes Of people who bail with
especial gladness the approach OF the holi
| day season. Tradition has little to do with
their love for Christmas, and the glad New
| Year doesn't I'LL their beings With retro
spection aud resolutioDs. but for them the
time of year when other folks gather to-
| gether in numbers and make merry pos
sesscs peculiar charm. They are the two
| classes OF crooks known as shopnfters and
| pickpockets, and hand In hand they chant
merry welcome to the Yuletfde.
For in that blftheson1e season Of the year
/ mankind, with nice, big watches in their
vests and sparkling diamonds In their
scarfs throng the streets and hotel lobbies.
and dainty femiDinity, adored or the
crooks, attired in handsome robes and wou-
derful bonnets, wearing sparkling Jewels
and with the well-filled wallet hubby"
hasprovided carriedloosely in neatly gioved
hands, pusb their way through crowded
stores, needless of feverytbing save the desire
tofind a bargainthat some relative or friend
will like.
The pickpocket miugles with the throngs
OF men; the shoplifter pushes her way along
through the stores with the women, and both
classes will reap fronl the careless ones g
golden harvest ere the many tongued bells
shall have ushered the new year In.
GOOD CROOKS DRESS WELL.
The wpll-dressed and lad dyllkefemales who
go through the big stores and take away
with them many things for which they
have not paid are the most dreaded OF all
criminal types q
shopHfting is SO easy remunerative, and
to women with evil tendencies congeniai,
that they pursue it with a great deal OF en-
ergy, and are hard 20 catch. Even the re-
male shoplifter has within her that touch
or womanly nature that makes the handling
of goods in a big store delight. and it IL
such good thieves.3G l.4,-a 4f.s.
Unless big store Is provided with special
detectives or floor-walkers, the shoplifter
has an easy time of 1t. In rush OF business
the clerks have entirely too much else to
attend to, to keep their eyes on the people,
and as consequence the crooks have many
chances and the weak many temptations.
An alluring bit of flnery is displayed on
counter, the shopper has a cloak with
ample folds, a moment of hesitancy, and
slyly, but quickly, the piece OF goods Is
transferred from the counter to the folds
OF the garment. Then with quickened
breath, hugging her prize tight, the shop
litter hurrles on. What stories some of
those old cloaks that have shielded the
forms OF lovely women from wintry blasts
could tell, and what terrible thing 1t
would be for many If those stories were
told.
Except in jewelry stores the professional
shoplifter rarely gets any single article of
great value. Pieces Of dress goods lingerie,
laces, cheap Jewelry and such goods are
usually as high as she aims, but the vast
quantity Of such stuff that is stolen makes
the loss to shopkeepers immense.
The professional avails hers OF specially
constructed costumes for her business,
and SO intricate are some Of them In de-.
sign that they may have many pieces
OF goods on their person, worth often