The times., 1901-04-07

cause she is poor or needs food. but
merely because she cOvets an article.
Il am today wearing disguise. but it is
not always necessary. In fact. 1 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 detective. which l can
not explain. but a great part of It con-
sists in knowing who are the local crooks.
in knowing what a crook looks like. and
in knowing what people are likely TO steal
if they get an opportunity Knowing the
crooks enables you to locate them when
ever they come into the store. but il is
also true that they will soon come To know
you. and unless you are disguised they
viii be able TO keep effectually out Of your
way.
Il have to watch careless and absent
minded customers. too; particularly the
neople who come in from the country
They have "A large amount OF money on
their persons. and are uHSuSpecting- Iney
are their own worst enemies Frequently
a woman with a hundred dollars in her
purse will lay 1t down on the counter.
where il is covered up with goods. Then
she thinks it has been stolen and comes
to the office with complaint. and we have
to find il for her A dozen times a day
keen country women from losing thelr
''Onlv certain counters require close
watching for most contain nothing that
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 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 They want their
avenue of escape close at hand.
The shOplifterS now are nearly All
women. and the percentage OF men mas
gone down considerably. / know that
shall find those who are trying to work
around the handkerchief counter. the rlD-
bon counter the glove counter. the lace
counter, or the notion counter. 1t IS the
notions / think, that they favor most,
and the handkerchief comes next The
handkerchief is easiest to steal because
woman found with a handkerchief IN
her possession can always claim II IS
, hers and that claim viii be plausible
even if she has two or three But with 2
pair of scissors, or toilet case or a
silver mounted hairbrush, there Is no
such defence.
they have taken the article away by mis-
take, or have been absent-minded; This
class is easy TO deal with, for, having
once gotten the article back. and given
the thief a scare we do not press the
matter further As 4 rule. when ] see
n woman taking anything which she has
not paid for. 1 step up to Her and say.
Pardon me madam, but do You wish 70
purchase that article2 That usually
brings Il startled look. and then a 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- disguises which are specially
adapted for cOnCeaiing things. An
old Irish woman with cloak and a shawl
over her head is q 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 i'm their
undertaking. in their STOCKINGS, and
often in specially made pockets in their
underskirts [ have seen woman sweep
a whole tray full of small knickknacks
into a pocket in her shawl. and yOu would
not have known she had them
Il drifted into this occupation from the
position of saleswOman- had managed
10 detect a large number Of thefts at my
own and nearby counters, and was put
on the floor. There is something exciting
in the work and il is, of course. much
better paid than q mere clerkship.