Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-12-25
sHoPLIFTiNo.
Ways That Arc Dark And Tricks That
Are Vain.

Arc Vain.
There is no section of criminals that
displays such varied ingenuity as
shoplifters, said clever detective
who has had long experience of the
fraternity; and can assure you that
many Of them might give lessons In
cunning to the most artful Chinee.
Shoplifting Is a science that appeals
largely to women. Their sex, to
certain extent, disarms suspicion,
especially when, an is usual, they are
elegantly dressed, and do their shop.
ping In a well-appointed brougham.
Their dress gives them unlimited
scope for the concealment of small
articles; and again, the game is so
comparatively free from risk, for II
they are caught red-handed, as a rule
it simply means an awkward inter
view with the proprietor and pay.
ment for the goods appropriated.
You see. 1t does not pay fashion.
able shopkeeper to give his house
bad reputation as q haunt Of thieves;
and, further, many of the lady-lifters
are women with some standing In So
ciety, who are either kleptomaniacs,
or who cannot resist the sudden temp.
tation of annexing pretty thing with
out payment.
Ladies of this class are novices in
the art, and are readily detected. A
common practice with them Is to slip
any small article from the counter In.
to their umbrellas when the assist.
ants back is turned. II detected, 1t
is the simplest of accidents, and the
culprit apologies prettily, and re-
stores the article.
In 1od uth<~ Il -
successful career at counter-stealing,
was always accompanied by a little
girl, ostensibly her daughter, carrying
large doll. The mother, who was
young and pretty, and faultlessly
dressed, would hold the doll while she
was being served Ia very natural and
prudent act with valuable doll which
the child might drop at any moment);
and when the ASSISTANTS attention was
withdrawn she would slip into the hol
low interior Of the doll any small
article, from bottle of scent to an
article of jewelry that might be ly
ing near her.
ploy women detectives, smartly dress
ed and of lady-like appearance, who
mix with the crowd of purchasers, and
peculations.
The tricks of the male shoplifter are
much more varied and subtle than
those of his female rival. A very
common practice In to carry a stick or
umbrella with a hollow receptacle at
the top. A spring releases the silver
or gold mounted top; the stolen
article, which must naturally be small
as it is valuable, is slipped into the
padded hollow. aud the top sprung
back again into position.
A very skilful thief made a hiding.
place Of the hollow part of an artificial
forearm into which he could palm an
article with lightning rapidity. One
of the latest devices Is to wear a glove
with pocket or series of pockets in
the palm; and while examining small
articles Of 1ewelry, rings. brooches,
gold pendants. and SO on. to slip one
or more into the concealed pocket by
a practised movement Of the fingers.
Another trick Ia to carry some ad-
hesive substance In the palm of the
gloves, and by carelessly resting the
palm on an article of jewelry to re-
move it. The opportunities for ex.
ercising these tricks while the assist.
attending to another customer, are
many.
But much shop-llfting Is done with
the help Of confederate. who strolls
In casually while humber one Is max.
Ing his purchases. One or two valu-
able articles are handed to the second
customer, who is apparently quite a
stranger to number one; and IL the
latter is suspected and searched, Of
course, nothing is found in his pos.
session. OF till rooberies, with smear.
ed and hook-ended sticks. of false
alarms which draw the shopkeeper in
pursuit Of imaginary thieves leaving
the real pilferer free to do his work,
and of the hundred and one other arti.
fees, it would require almost volume
to speak.
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