New-York tribune., 1896-09-27
INVITATIONS TO THEFT.
CAREL LEssNEss OF WOMEN IN cAhhf''"
THEIR MONEY AND JEWELS


The ,oss of nearIv ~ O0 in cash by Mrs. Belle
Helmuth in Fifth-ave. early last week cause" '""'
police detectives to make remarks about '"' '"'o
lessness OF women and the ease with which tney
can be robbed In public places That is suo''o.
on which a detective can talk for any ie"s'" "
time when he gets started. and he can cite III
Vulnerable Instances which go TO show that wo"."
are easy victims OF pickpockets on account vi '"'
propensity carry money and wear cosuy jewell
in nain view of the passing crowd. Mrs. HeImutn
to be sure did have her money taken away w
force or stealth by thief, but she carried '"s
money in her hand instead of in her pocket ana
dropped the cash i'm her anxiety TO save d ''.
which had been blown from her neck ny gust u
wind Probably some dishonest person VINO was
passing saw her drop the bank book with its 'a'
lining OF bills and picked up the treasure oeiore
she had recovered the boa. Talking ABOUT her
loss a detective said the other day that ne had
heard OF several cases i'm which women hah ios'
propertv Of considerable value in their anxiety 10
save triHes.
"Clever thieves understand and take advantage OF
that failing" he said MANY women not content
with careessly carrying their purses In their hanos
when they walk about in crowds in the shopping
district will lay their purses down on counters
when they examining goods IN the storeS'
Thieves are on the lookout for such opportunities
and all they have to do in many cases Is merely 10
edge up TO "A careless woman. crowd her bttie'
perhaps pick up her pocketbook when she isn't
looking and walk away with it, Sometimes II ID
necessary to divert her attention and also the at
tention of the salesman at the counter Thieves
often travel in pairs for that purpose ana the most
common trick is to drop handkerchief. usually =
cheap with marks on it, near the womans
skirt
Excuse me. but you have dropped your haho-
kerchief thief says politely and the woman
looks down, and perhaps stoops to pick IL UP.
Then there is examination and deniai OF
ownership and the handkerchief is handed over 10
the salesman to he returned to the real owner who
may call for it later. and I'm the mean time the
woman's purse has been safely slowed away In the
pocket of a confederate who makes tracks Out OF
the store
My gracious" the woman exclams presently. I
wonder what did with my purse. and then there
Is another diversion BY that time both thieves are
beyond pursuit The police hear of many such
cases but there are many women who never mako
complaint to the police. and are even ashamed to
tell their friends how easily they have been robbed.
The who handsome gold watches
pinned by piece of ribbon on the outside OF their
jackets not robbed often they deserve to
be robbed. OF all the fads of women that has
seemed to me to be the most reckless In the way
of tempting THE .s When woman decked
that way I sometimes feel like stealing ner
watch myself and giving 1t back 10 her with
lecture Some women also wear pins with costly
jewels carelessy stuck in their back hair when
they go about in crowds in the streets and stores.
would be fewer small robberes in the city II the
would not openly tempt thieves TO steal In
tn Al way.
Many robbed although they think
they taking care to protect their purses ana
other valuabes by carrying them in satchels when
they shopping trips, and In most cases the
women fail to take one small precaution which
would battle the ordinary thief The trouble Is that
vanity Of the women and the fault of the manu-
facurers of satchels combine to favor the thieves.
Nearly every satchel carried by women has some
ornamental device on one side, and always on tho
side where the clasp is. A woman carries the
satC hel that the ornamental device be seen.
and the clasp Is exposed to the touch Of every light
fingered thief who passes her 1t is the easiest pos
sble trick for thief to open satchel In the hands
of it's owner. when carried that way and take out
a purse jewelry. 1t is done In crowded places
every day or two. II woman carries her
satche that the clasp is next to her person. how
ever the satchel cannot be opened without her
Knowledge. She may not crafty her vanity by ex-
posing view the ornamental side OF her satchel.
but her property will be safe in the crowd while she
hangs on TO the satchel.'