The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-05
DEPARTMENT STORE DETECTIVES.
The Women Who Save Big Firms
Thousands of Dollars.

Thousands of Dollars.
Perhaps the saddest and yet most exciting
business in which a woman engage is
that of detecting shoptlifters for the big
firms in the big cities. 1t is said that fully
a hundred women are engaged by New York
houses and their daily experiences would
make spicy reading.
But it isn't all excitement for many a girl
of social standing but limited means, has
yielded to a temptation under the eyes of
the detective who is often compelled to bring
her up matter how much compassion
struggled with profession.
Olive f. Gunby repeats some characteristic
detective stories in the New York Evening
Post The sorriest information given to her
by the detective was that: Children not
more than eight or nine years old were
among the shoplifters. Some carry off things
OF their own accord, planning their own
mode of doing it, and others are instructed by
their mothers before they come. and fire.
quently fix the goods for the mothers to get
hold of, doing this while the women engage
the clerk in conversation otherwise divert
attention. L saw a woman pinch a child s
arm sharply one day." said the spotter. when
the little one did not take the beaded pocket
book that had been showed just in front of
her. 1t mad probably been a prearranged
trick that the child was to take certain
pinch reminded her One successful woman
thief comes in here with two beautifully
dressed childrea, a girl and boy the latter
only about four years old. She slid different
articles that she took down the child's back
ond was carrying off several remnants of fine
embroidery and pieces of nainsook when
stopped her out on the pavement
Il seldom arrest anybody in the store" con-
tnued the detective, but wait until they are
clear OF the doors, so that if they offer re-
sistance or make a scene, it won't attract
attention. and 1 never bother with any theft
whatever that does not amount in value to
50 or $4 1t does not pay, and besides the
person who will take small matters like that
and is not lnterfered with will be certain to
come in another time and take something
more valuable. 1t is the thieves who operate
on large scale that have especially to
watch for. Jewish and Italian women par
tcularly are adopts at the trade, and a num-
her WHO have become too we'll known in Lon
don or Paris or other foreign centers come
here to pursue the game. These work regu-
iarly on commission and some are notorious
ly successful. l have known them to take
whole pieces of silk, worth So. IS or $40 a
yard, in quantity SO heavy that strong man
could scarcely carry it without effort, and
yet they would walk along as naturally as
possible. Strong. plant women they are and
with wonderful nerve
AS 10 the effect which such a profession
has upon woman the detective eaid:
when l first went into the business sir
years ago was hard as flint l had no nity
and thought in every case that the thieves
got just what they deserved. l know the
world better now, and know peoples tempta
ton, and so am not so harsh. The othe,
day I saw pretty young girl lingering a
gold pin, one of several unusually pretty
ones stuck in a cushion. She examined il
again and again, and, finally, when she
thought no one was looking she slipped it
in her muff. She was refined looking. and I
was as sorry when she put that pin away
as though she were some relative She moved
about examining other things: bought some
little knick-knack or other and then I saw
her watch the chance to put the pin back on
the counter l thought her conscience
wouldn't let her keep it, and turned my at
teItion elsewhere, but in little while 1 saw
the same girl before that cushion of pins
again; she looked longingly at the one she
had previously selected, stretched cut her
hand and was just going to take it when
l touched her On the arm. My dear, you