The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-02-03
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 i'll
all the great London shops that the
public is 10 be trusted implicitly, an
elaborate and carefully organized syS
tenn Of espionage prevails to circum-
cent the designs OF the pcripaletic
thief and the marauding kleptomaniac.
The invisible detective. whose office
is some unsuspccted gallery in the
ceiling. whence from artfullE designed
peepho,es in the moding he car SIR
vey the whole establishment. IS the
most successful foil to the shcDlifter.
But there are only Il few shops 50
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
salesman's elbow While he is showing
them.
At all periods careful watch is kept
on those dress establishments that are
peryaded by women. but more espe-
cially Al sale time. for it is hen that
covetousness overwhelms morality most
easily, and the crowded state Of the
shops favors the picker up of uncon-
sidered triaes \ manager Of one OF
the largest Establishments in the me
ffopolis says it is in those departments
that are not spacious that pilfering
principally gees on and that in them
detective supervision is always most
acute.
Every shopwa!ker aud counter at
tendant is in effect 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 prearranged
sign. The detective then keeps the suS-
pect under her immediate eye. In the
large emporiums where women chiefly
eongregate the most efficient. because
lhe least conspicuous, detectives are
@onen. either employed as shopwalE
ays or as customers.
When an attendant misses or thlnks
he misses something or notices disturb
ing signs of thievery be speaks to the
detective. who. as an elegantly garbed
customer. seats herself in a position
commanding a good view of the s'1s'
pect 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 kleptomaniac. Prosecutions
do not forward business. The proprie-
tors policy is to prevent pilfering by
every conceivable means. Hence blind
eve is turned to what is theft in en-
bryo. and the wretched shoplifter
caught in the act Of purlolnlng blouse
under cover Of her waterproof is asked
whether the article may not be sent
home for her. To the bulging umbrella
or the gaping handbag the detective al
ludes with an apology. fearing that
madam has inadvertently incommoded
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 the
dock and gladly pay for the experience
in coin Of the realm as if they had All
the while meant to purchase instead or
to purloin the goods. Should leniency
of such a kind fail to lead the trespass-
er back into the paths Of rectitude. the
managers office is made the scene or
more serious negotiations. on which II
is we'll to draw the veil. But as rule
It does not.-London Mail.