The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-18
DECREASE IN THEFT.
sHOPLIFTING IN ST. PAUL is NOT
NEARLY SO HEAVY AS LAST
CHRISTMAS
so ALL LOCAL STORES AGREE
Various Reasons Assigned by Floor
Walkers for Falling Or in Petty
Thfevery-Just the Reverse
in Minneapolis.

Shoplifting is on the decrease in ST.
Paul. This is the unanimous opinion OF
the managers and floor walkers of all
the principal stores in the city. While
those in a position to know and appre-
ciate this fact are of one accord, never
thelesS they are divided as to the cause
Of this Improvement on the part of the
Christmas shoppers. With one exception
they all differ on this point They agree
that the decrease in pilfering is not due
to any moral reason.
A tour of all the department and other
large stores OF the city yesterday,
brought forth the fact that while there
is always more shop lifting INDUCED in
during the holidays than in any other
season, that this year there have been
fewer cases than for many years pre-
vious.
Owing to the fact that in all large de-
partment stores there are many extra
counters on which tempting articles are
spread, there are each season cases OF
shoplifting done by persons who would
never think OF it during the other months.
Many persons see fine articles, such as
furS, silks, and trinketS which are be-
yond the reach of their purses, and are
overcome by an Overwhelming desire to
own them In other seasons these tempt
ing articles are kept where it is a matter
of some difficulty to secure them, but
during the holidays they are right under
the tempted ones hands, and the result
is frequently that one of the store de-
tectiveS steps on the scene, and then
there are tears and promises never to do
it again. This case applies only to those
who may broadly speaking, be called hon
est persons.
Then there are always the professional
of tcIyi
all sorts of articles from stores without
going through the necessary Formally Of
speaking to the clerk about the matter
These have a fine opportunity to ply their
trade during the holidays as their
chances of not being noticed in the
crowds that surge around the different
counters are many. Years of experience
have taught department store managers
what to expect during the closing days
of the year, and they invariably make
an increase in the number of store de-
tectives of both sexes. Some stores even
have uniformed officers, the moral effect
of whose presence is sufficient to halt
many on the verge of crime.
Without exception the stores visited
Yesterday by T h Clio b e represented
that they had been losing articles from
their counters. but it was said that this
was to be expected. One of the largest
stores in the city has had but two cases
of detected shoplifting since the holiday
trade began, another had none. and in
all other stores it was said that there
was far less shoplifting than in past
years.
Busy in Minneapolis.
In Minneapolis the reverse is the case.
Reports from the large stores in that
city state that the percentage of goods
stolen is something enormous, and far in
excess of previous years. This is consid-
cred by some of the floor walkers to be
the reason for the decrease of shop
lifting in st. Paul. They say that all
the professional '1ifters' are in Mime
nr.nIic nd that they have only to contend