Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-27
THE POLICE KEPT BUSY
RARELY WITHOUT SOMETHING
SPECIAL ON THEIR HANDS.
Rogues Have All Seasons in Which to
operate-Shopifters and
Pickpockets.

OF year that the pouceSdTe without some
thing in the extraordinary line to claim
their attention. Just now the races are
here and certain class of race track fol-
lowers invariably demand attention while
the horses are on the tracks. a sequence
for which the race management is, of
course, In no wise responsible 1t usually
ha opens that depredatons of an unusual
character are committed during the meet.
One more week and the races will be over.
Then the detectives with have to spend
their spare time about the business houses,
where the Christmas shoppers will be out
in large numbers 1t is during the Christ
mas shopping season that the shoplifter
and pickpocket reap a harvest and for
that reason the detectives of this city, as
we'll as of other large cities, find 1t neces-
sary to keep a close watch on the crowded
stores.
About, the time the races close Capt.
Boardman will begin the assignment of
the members of his corps of detectives to
special duty about the big stores and the
crowded thoroushfares. In order to afford
the shoppers protection against the pecula-
tons of the pickpockets. Detectives from
the precincts may also be transferred to
the business part of the city for the holt
day season. Despite all the extra precau-
tons that will be taken, the liSht-fngered
gentry will doubtless succeed In appropriate
ing some Christmas goods.
In addition to the extra corps of detect
ives there will be men on duty in the stores
who will have nothing to do other than to
lookout for the goods that are displayed
and prevent thefts. With the members of
the city force. private detectives and floor
walkers on duty during the holidays there
will be several hundred watchers on the
streets and in the stores
Women Principal Offenders
While there is some pilfering done in the
stores by men and boys it is the belief of
&C., H.
'shoplifters" Except in cases where the
culprit is known to be professional in that
line of business, the plea that she is a
kleptomaniac is usually set up and success
fully worked. The word "klep tomania"
covers manv such offenses and prevents
the making of court records. In some of
the stores the f1oor-walkers know number
of women who have taken refuge behind
this claim more than once and when they
enter a store their movements are watched
until they finish their shopping and depart.
Such women usually dress well. and most
of them carry a shawl or cloak on their
arms. in order that their hands may be
shielded when they are actually taking
goods belonging to the merchants.
With the professional shoplifter it is diff
ferent She does not always carry a COW
ering for her arm. but she invariably has
false pocket that can be reached through a
slit in her dress, and these pockets are
made large enough to hold bolt of silk,
and other articles besides ri
Many women who are known as profess
SIGNALS work with confederate. or pal"
as the police call them. This confederate
keeps as far from the counters as possible
and still within reach of her companion
when the latter makes a graft" So quick
ly are the movements made that when a
pinch follows, the stolen property has
been turned to the confederate and
the woman arrested is able to convince the
one making the arrest that she is innocent.
In such cases the woman arrested is never
a 10 hos, X,lo IL.
in her possession. and they are then able
to make the plea of absent mindednass 1t
OFTEN happens that shoppers in moving from
one counter to another will carry an article
with them, and the professionals who put
up this plea. and with but one stolen article
In their possession usually succeed in Sc
curing release. l4'2rEt
Cases Excite Sympathy.
Almost every season the police arrest sew
eral women whose cases excite sympathy
In some of the cases it is impossible to I'M
derstand why the women have yielded to
temptation They have good homes and
are literally supplied with cash, and they
usually take some cheap article that would
hardly attract the attention of a child
Then there are the poor ones who take
Christmas goods in order to keep up a
showing equal to that of their neighbors
They go to the stores and are attra cted by
the big displays of goods and cannot resist
carry away. 1t is this class of unfortu-
mates who are usually caught and have to
pay the penalty. They are without practice
and do not know how to hide their dishon-
est transactions. Scores of persons are
caught in the stores taking goods in this
way, but who are not arrested They are
merely taken to the store office and oues-
toned. The stolen goods are taken from
them and they are permitted to go with
lecture and warning not to return to the
store.
In the crowded stores the women pick
pockets of the professional class are able
to get money enough for their Christmas
shopping. The same coat or cloak that
shields them on their shoplifting tours pre-
vents their hand being seen when it is
thrust into the pocket of a victim Then
many women who go shopping are careless
with their purses. They carry them in
pockets that are easily reached, or law then,
upon the counters while examining goods |
lhey are always surprised when they learn
that the hand of a thief has relieved them
OF their cash. With a little more care on
their part. the police say the number of
such thefts would greatly decrease and
more people would be happy. Frequently
II happens that the victims are robbed of
thelr Christmas money and the children at
nome are the sufferers. They have to do
without their Santa Claus celebra tons and
an because of carelessness on the part of
the money custodian. who is in many cases
also the Garner of the money