Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-12
THEIR BUSY SEASON
THE RACES SURE TO ATTRACT
LOTS OF CROOKS.
Pickpockets and Shoplifters
Various Ways in Which
the Latter Work

1t is confidently expected that there will
De some shoplffters come here during the
next few days in order to enjoy the races
and reap a harvest at the same time.
Such people are always attracted here
by the races a local detective told Star
reporter. This year the races to be
held so late that those of the Iight-fingered
gentry who follow the horses will be here
about the beginning of the holiday rush
In the stores. The races will also attract
crooks Of another class; they will attract
pickpockets. but their victims are usually
people who have hit the races, and the
crooks think it is no serious harm to take
money that is won in such way
''Shoplifters," said the detective, work
in various ways, and while some of them
are caught, the great majority of them are
never detected man or woman who en-
cages in the business makes a study of it
and is prepared to act in such manner
that suspicion will not be aroused. They
usually dress well, and even if suspected
clerk or proprietor of store hesitateS
long time before causing arrest. 1t is
e. delicate matter to say that particular
person is a crook, and more especially is
this the case when the suspected person is
well dressed and puts good front 1t
Is for that reason that many a shoplifter Is
permitted to go free after clerk has re-
ported a piece of dishonesty to a floor
walker or proprietor. When such a person
Is under suspicion in a store 1t is not an
easy matter for clerk to conceal the
suspicion, and the dishonest one naturally
gets next and ducks
Ways of Working.
GAS is the case with other classes of
thieves" the detective continued, 'shoplIft-
ers have different ways of working. They
also have different devices for carrying off
their plumber. The latest device is a gar
ter with three four hooks attached. The
hooks so arranged that they will not
interfere with the garments Of the female
operator, and at the same time hold hum
dreds of dollars worth of laces other
valuables. 1t is simple continuance and
stolen property hung upon them can be
carried without attracting the slightest at
tention;; But not many OF the old-lne shop
bly, only few of them have adopted 1t.
Most of the local shoplifters carry baskets
with them. but the amount each one gets
Is usually small 1t is true that they
sometimes make a good haul but most of
them are content with articles of small
value. Some of them go on with their dis
honest work for months and keep the re-
suit of their work in their homes, as If they
do not know how to dispose of 1t. Several
persons arrested in this city during recent
years were found to have kept their booty
stored away in their homes and had not
been known to sell any of 1t.
'It Is common thing for man who
wants to commit theft of this kind to en-
ter store and engage the attention of
clerk while he makes numerous selections
of valuable goods. Such person has
an air of refinement and presents the APP
pearanee of a man of wealth. When he
has made his selections he orders the goods
sent c. O. D. to a fictitious address. BY
the time he has finished giving his order
he has something of value concealed about
his person. The order is sent to the add
dress given and 1t is not until the goods |
are returned to the store that the appar- |
emily wealthy customer is suspected. but
1t Is then too late to accomplish anything
in the way of having him apprehended.
Holsters who go single handed invari-
ably operate in this way.
When Two Are Engaged.
Where two men operate in a store
the game is an easy one" the detective
oafd ssNof on1v In n aasy l1Irt IL nan he