Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1904-02-06
LONDON's SHOPLlFTERS.
Methods Employed By Some OF the
stores to Avoid Arrests.

Methods Employed By Some of the
stores to Avoid Arrests.
Though there Is every appearance In
all the great London shops that the
public is to be trusted implicitly, an
elaborate and carefully organized sys-
tenn Of espionage prevails to circum-
vent the designs of the perlpatetic
thief and the marauding kleptomaniac.
The invisible detective. whose office
IA some unsuspectcd gallery In the
ceiling. whence from artfully designed
peepholes In the molding he can sur
yey the whole establishment Ia the
most successful foil to the shoplifter.
But there are only few shops 80
structurally designed that surveillance
of this kind Is possible. Some OF the
jewelers. treasure palaces are guarded
in this manner. and to make assurance
doubly sure no attendant Is WITHOUT
his satellite, who keeps wary eye on
the cases Of gems exposed to the GUS
toners inspection, standing at the
salesmans elbow while he Is showing
them.
At all periods careful watch Is kept
on those dress establishments that are
pervaded by women, but more espe-
ciaIly at sale time, for 1t is then that
covetousness overwhelms morality most
easily. and the crowded state OF the
shops favors the picker up OF uncon-
adhered trifes. A manager OF one OF
the largest establishments In the me-
tropolis says 1t ia In those departments
that are not spacious that pilfering
principally goes on and that In them
detective supervision Is always most
acute.
Every shopwalker and counter at
tendant Is in effect a detective, but
there are some professionals who as
sumo the guise to hide their real posi-
finn II ia the duty of each attendant
when he is suspicious Of customer to
call the attention of the detective to
her. not blatantly, but by prearrangeo
sign The detective then keeps the sus'
pect under her immediate eye. In the
large emporiums where women chieny
congregate the most efficient. because
the least conspicuous. detectives are
women, either employed as shopwaik
ers or as customers.
When an attendant misses or THINKS
he misses something or notices dlsturD
ing signs of thievery he speaks to the
detective. who, as an elegantly garDeO
customer. seats herself In position
commanding a good view OF the sus
meet 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.
II there be one result less desired bJ
the shop proprietor than another 1t II
TO convict kleptomaniac. Prosecutions
do not forward business The proprie
tors policy is to prevent pilfering by
every conceivable means. Hence oiinC
eve Is turned to what Is theft In EN-
bryo. and the wretched shoplifteI
caught in the act OF purloining blouse
under cover Of her waterproof Is asked
whether the article may not be sen
home for her. To the bullying umbrella
or the gaping handbag the detective al
ludes with an apology. fearing ina
madam has inadvertently incommodee
herself with something that fell from
the counter.
First offenders are often cured By
narrow escapes such as this from fall
ing into the abyss that leads to TN
dock and gladly pay for the experience
IN coin Of the realm as II they had al
the while meant to purchase instead o.
to purloin the goods. Should lenienc!
OF such kind fail to lead the trespass
er back into the paths OF recttude tn
managers Office Is made the scene o.
more serious negotiations, on which
is well to draw the veil. But as rul'
II does not.-London Mail.