The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-07

cause she is poor or needs food. but
merely because she covets an article.
II am today wearing a disguise. but it is
not always necessary. In fact. l suppose
nearly as effective work can be done in
ones ordinary clothes. One does not need
to be especially gifted with histrionic
| ability, as is the general opinion There is
an art in being a detective, which | can
not explain. but a great part of 1t con-
sis,s in knowing who are the local crooks,
| in knowing what crook looks like. and
| in knowing what people are likely 10 steal
| if they get an opportunity. Knowing the
crooks enables you to locate them when
| ever they come into the store. but it is
also true that they will soon come to know
/ you, and, unless you are disguised. they
will be able to keep effectually out Of your
| way.
Il have to watch careless and absent
minded customers, too; particularly the
people who come in from the country
| They have large amount OF money on
their persons. and are unsuspectlng. Iney
are their own worst enemies trequently
a woman with hundred dollars in her
purse will lay it down on the counter.
where it is covered up with goods. Then
she thinks it has been stolen and comes
to the office with q complaint. and we have
to find it for her. A dozen times day 1
keep country women from losing their
| purses in this way.
! watching, for most contain nothing tnat
| can be easily taken away. AT this SIX
| counter, for instance, where there are only
rolls of silk goods exposed. there Is really
| nothing that a thief could take away
| Only the first floor need be watched care
| fully. for very few crooks would be willing
| to trust themselves so far from the front
door as the second floor. Ihey want their
avenue of escape close at hand.
THE shoplifters now are nearly all
women. and the percentage of men has
| gone down considerably. | know that /
| shall find those who are trying TO WORK
/ around the handkerchief counter. the rib
| bon counter. the glove counter. the lace
I counter. or the notion counter. II is tne
notions. l think, that they favor most,
/ and the handkerchief comes next. Inc
| handkerchief is easiest to steal because
a woman found with handkerchief In
| her possession can always claim II IS
i hers. and that claim will be plausible
| even if she has two or three. But with n
I pair of scissors, or a toilet case, or a
/ silver mounted hairbrush, there Is no
such defence.
"a great many shoplifters pretend that
they have taken the article away by mis-
| take. or have been absent-mtnded- This
class is easy to deal with; for, having
| once gotten the article back. anu given
! the thief a scare We do not press the
matter further As Il rule, when | see
woman taking anything which she has
not paid for. | step up to her and say.
( Pardon me, madam, hut do You wish 70
purchase that articleT That usually
| brings startled look. and then con-
! fused attempt at explanation
There are Il great many professionals
/ who prepare themselves for the cam
paign when they start out. Many
take to DISCUSSES which are specially
adapted for concealing things. An
old Irish woman with cloak and a shawl
over her head is common disguise here.
/ The cloak is usually filled with pockets.
! into which the stolen articles are put
/ Many women, thinking that they viii NOS
/ be searched. put their plumber in their
/ underclothing. in their stockings. and
| often in specially made pockets in their
understands. | have seen a woman sweep
| a whole tray full of small knickknacks
| into a pocket in her shawl. and yuu would
not have known she had them
Il drifted into this occupation from the
: position of saleswoman. | had managed
| to detect large number of thefts at my
own and nearby counters, and was put
on the floor There is something exciting
in che work. and il is, of course. much
better paid than mere clerkship.'