Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-01-14
LONDON'S SAOPLlETERS.
Methods Employed by Some OF the
stores to Avoid Arrests,

stores To NNOtu Arrcsts,
Though there is every appearance IN
all the great London shops that the
public is To be trusted implicitly, an
elaborate and carefully orgauiEed syS-
tenn of espionage prevails 10 circum-
vent the designs Of the pcripatctic
thief and the marauding Hcptomaumc,
The invisible detective, whose office
is some upsuSprctcd gallery in the
ceiling, whence from artfully designed
pecpNoleS in the molding he can sur
vcy the whole establishments is the
But there are only a few shops 81
strucmmlly designed that surveillance
of this kind is possible Some OF the
jewelers. treasure palaces are guarded
in this manner, and To make assurance
douhly sure no attendant is without
his satellite who keeps wary eye on
the eases OF gems exposed to the GUS
toners Inspection, standing ut the
fsalCSman'S elbow while he is showing
them.
At all periods careful watch is kept
on those dress establishments that are
pcrvaded by women, hut more cspc-
cially at sale time, for II Is then that
covrtouSucSS overwhclms morality most
easily, and the crowded state Of the
shops favorS the picker up of uncon-
sidcned tribes. A manager OF one Of
the largest establishments in the mo
Nj | 10 In, y mi Il
that are not spacious that pilfering
principally goes on and that i'll them
detective supervision is always most
acute.
Every shopwalkcr and counter at
tcndant is In effect II detective, but
there are some professionals who as
sumo the guise TO hide their real posi-
ton 1t is the duty of each attendant
when he Is suspicious Of customer to
call the attention Of the detective To
her not blatantly, but by prcarrnngcd
sign. The detective then keeps the sus.
poet under her immediate eye. In the
large cmporiums where women chiefly
Congrcgate the most efficient, because
the least conspicuous, detectives are
women, either employed rs shopwnlk'
ers or as customers.
When an attendant misses or thinks
he misses something or notices disturb
ing signs Of thicvery he speaks to the
detective, who, MS an elegantly CARRIED
customer, seats herself In position
commanding good view of the suS-
poet and makes her purchases like any
other woman, all the while gathering
data upon which TO proceed. The dis
guise assumed by the shop detective
differs day by day,
If there be one result less desired by
the shop proprietor than another IT Is
to convict n klcptomaniac. Prosecutions
do not forward business. The propre-
tors policy is to prevent pIlfcring by
every conceivable means. Hence blind
eye is turned to what is theft In cm-
hryo, and the wrctchcd shopllftCr
caught in the act OF puroining blouse
under cover of her waterproof Is asked
whether the article may not be sent
home for her. To the bullying umbrella
or the gaping handbag the detective nj.
ludcs with an apology, fearing that
madam has inadvertently incommodcd
herself with something that fell from
the counter.
First offenders are often cured by
narrow escapes such MS this from fall
ing into the abyss that leads to the
dock and gladly pay for the experience
in coin of the realm rs If they had all
the while meant 10 purchase instead of
to purloin the goods. Should lenicncy
of such kind fail to lead the trcspnss'
err back into the paths OF rcctitudc the
managers office is made the scene OF
more serious negotiations. on which II
Is well to draw the veil. But as n rule
ii does not.-London Mail.
A..