Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-03-26
SHOP DETECTIVE FORCE.
WATCHES NOT ONLY VISITORS, BUT
ALSO ESTABLISHMENTS HELP.

rests-Unaccountable Shoplifting Cases.
At best never easy, the policing of
large department stores is, at the busy
season, most complex problem. Not
only is the task aggravated by the in
creased crowds, but bv the infusion Of
strange salespeople.
But the main reason for the tenn
porary reinforcement of such detective
staffs is to afford a warning to the pro-
fessional shoplifters who flock to the
big cities at such opportune times. The
knowledge that certain store is bet
ter equipped in it's detective bureau
than another serves as a most effectual
deterrent, and therein lies the chief
benefit of such bureau.
Though normally four or five officers
seem to suf1ce, at rush times the total
exceeds thirty.
Harry Blades, chief of that bureau in
a famous New York department store,
when seen the other day by an Econo-
mist man, talked Interestingly of his
department and the way it was run.
I'VE have now," said he, "about 30
detectives on our roll, of whom four
are women. Our regular force doesn't
exceed four or five, but is reinforced
for the holidays from a waiting list
all tried and true men.
"No, we don't recruit from police
headquarters, or, rarely ever. We are
after people with the detective in
stinct, hail whence they may.
''Opa of tho hact dntaotiuac uoc opoa
salesgirl at the fancy goods counter.
She gave our sleuths SO many excel
lent clues as to suspicious shoppers
clues that were successfully followed
that we persuaded her to join our staff.
And we made no error. She has more
than fulfilled our expectations. You
see she had it in her, and needed no
Mulberry street training to bring it
out.
las rule, however women are not
so good at ferreting out crime as men.
They are also timid, fearing violence if
necessary to arrest. But where the
clue is given a woman can shadow a
suspect better than a man, seeing that
she can worm in and out, and is less
conspicuous in doing SO. A man looks
out of place at a bargain counter
'One of our greatest troubles with
new detectives" continued Mr.. Blades,
sis overzealousness. They imagine that
they are not making a showing-not
earning their salary-unless constant
ly dragging offenders up to the office.
So anxious are they to show results
that they are apt to overdo.
'They probably look at it this way:
4 am only here for the holiday season,
unless l can show special aptitude, to
prove which l must succeed in making
a big trapping
"On this account give my new men
positive instructions never 10 make an
arrest without calling one of my old
staff for consultation. AS to the best
policy to be pursued when woman is
caught opinions differ. The method we
pursue is this:
Whenever professional shoplifter
is caught red-handed we invariably
prosecute in order to deter others.
otherwise we use discretion.
Some Of the cases of shoplift-
ing which have come to my notice dur
ing lifelong connection with store
tective bureau Many of our new
plicable. To this very office have been
brought wives of prominent merchants,
wall street brokers and men of like
standing in the community-women
who have been caught in the very act
of secreting goods on their persons.
"On investigation these women al
most invariably proved to be victims
of the morphine or laudanum habit,
sponsible. Now, what should we gain
in exposing such case, thereby ruin
ing reputation for all time?
Nor do We expose cases of theft by
really INDECENT people, when we arc
assured they are not professionals
No good end can be served by such ex-
posure. Moreover, it would be bad
ad for the house, for such cases would
receive extended newspaper comment
to the detriment of the firm exposing
the culprits
Lack of harmony, continued Mr..
Blades, 'is another point to be guard
ed against in the management of de-
tective bureau. Many of our new
men are inclined to throw the bluff
that they are the whole thing. They
did it all. l discourage lat sort of
thing.
'If any good piece of work is done
in the store in that direction, the de-
tective bureau receives credit therefor.
not an individual officer. All must work
in harmony. l instruct them to be re-
ceptive to hints from any and all
sources. And even if they find certain
clues unreliable, not to discourage the
offering Of them. Though wrong once,
they might be right again.
professional jealousy is also to be
guarded against. What any one of
us may have learned about certain
case the rest are entitled to know. In
formation SO obtained is not for any
individuals benefit, but for that of the
bureau. Hence there is nothing to be
gained in an attempt to hog glory.