The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-21
STEAL IN THE BIG STORES.
ShOplifters Keep Detectives Con-
stantly on the Alert.

From the New York Evening Post
The college professor who gave 1t as
proved that one person out of every
three is a thief may have had natural
tendency toward exaggeration or he
may have had personal reasons for his
sweeping denunciation of humanity. 1t
was probably a case of 81 said in my
wrath" but nevertheless the n1isap-
propria ting instinct is so strong IN all
classes of society and manifests itself
so often in people who apparently
have not the slightest excuse for steal
ing that we are forcibly reminded that
civilization is as yet incompletely
evolved. The realization of other peo-
pies property rights is still imperfect.
The temptation to steal is easily
awakened in many, and it is not to
be wondered at that department stores,
with their brilliant displays, their coun-
ters piled with apparently unmatched
goods and their sheltering crowds not
only attract professional thieves but
are the means of making new ones.
For this reason no department store is
without it's trained detectives, men and
women, who are paid good salaries, not
to prevent thefts altogether, for that
is impossible, but to keep the losses
down to a minimum.
1t is nara TO get women TOT THIS
work, in spite of the fact that it is
we'll rewarded and not particularly
arduous. Women in general have
prejudice against the profession. as
sociating it in their minds with an I'M
pleasant type of woman whose useful
ness is derived from her acquaintance
with the seamy side OF life. On the
contrary. the demand is for refined
women to do detective work, and these
are espe cially wanted in the large
shops Tact is the prime qualification.
The detective must dress and appear
we'll, be keen-eyed and worldly wise
in Judging human nature. She must
be quiet and unobtrusive in her bear
ing and she must have a fund of pa
tience for detecting is often slow
work.
In every store near the main en-
trance there stand persons who have
the appearance of shoppers waiting
for some friend to arrive or for the
rain to cease or for their change to
come. They see every newcomer
without appearing to look at anyone.
The faces of professional shoplifters
are perfectly we'll known to them, and
if such person enter the shop or if
anyone comes in whose dress or man.
ner is in any way suspicious a detec-
tive follows her until she leaves the
store Professional shoplifters are so
clever at their work that 1t is difficult
to detect them in the act. One may
be convinced that articles are being
taken, but yet unable to actually see 1t
done. The detective must be certain,
for an error might have serious re-
suits. Sometimes the detective. walk
ing very close to the suspected thief,
is able to have her suspicious confirm
ed by the appearance of bulges in the
clothing where bulges would not
naturally exist. The shoplifter's gown
has as many pockets as shooting
coat and it is astonishing the quanti-
~ and the bulk Of the articles they
are able to stow away in them. 1t is
not uncommon 10 unload one of these
gowns Of several dress patterns. a hat
or two. quantities OF Undertaking
and half a bushel OF small articles.
scenes Are Avoided.
Arrests are rarely made in the store.
There is reason for this. In the first
place IL is bad policy 10 create an
unpleasant disturbance. II drives away
customers and interferes with the or
der and routine Of the establishment
Then the offender may successfully
claim that he had no intention OF
taking the goods away from the shop
She may declare that she Was simply
trying 10 match tho color IN trim
mings or buttons or Innings. She may
say that she wanted 20 see u N a
bread light
The sboDlifter 10 followed - the
street and there quietly spoken ~
The words are ordinarily b request -
accompany the detective ~ the super
infendenrs Once professional shop
lnerf nfary alW0yf - quietly b1f
fhf occasional thief makff sccne
fhe fTff demands ~ know Why her
presence is required ~ me once. Anc