Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1904-01-27
LoNDoN's sAoPLlFrsRs.
Methods Employed oy some OF IN.
stores a. Avoid Arrests.

Methods Employed ny some OF the
stores to Avoid Arrests.
Though there Is every appearance in
all the great London shops that the
public Is 70 be trusted implicitly, an
elaborate and carefully organized sys-
tenn OF espionage prevails 10 clrcum-
vent the designs OF the peripatetic
thief and the marauding kleptomaniac
The invisible detective. whose Office
is some unsuspectcd gallery I'm the
ceiling. whence from artfully designed
peepholes in the molding he can sur
vey the whole establishment is the
But there are only few shops so
strncturally designed that surveillance
OF this kind il 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 a 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
pervadod 10y women. but more espe-
cially ut sale time. for IL is then that
covctouSncss overwhelms morality most
easily, and the crowded state OF the
shops favorS the picker up OF uncon-
sidered tribes. A manager of one OF
the largest establishments in the me-
tropolis says Il Is I'm 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 I'm effect a detective, but
there are some professionals who as
sumo the guiSe To hide their real posi-
ton. II 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 eve. In the
large cmporiums where women chiefly
congregate the most efficient. because
the least conspicuous. detectives are
women. either employed as shopwalS-
ers or as customers.
When an attendant misses or thinks
he misses something or notices disturb
ing signs OF thievery he speaks 10 the
detective. who. rs an elegantly CARRIED
customer seats herself in position
commanding a 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.
IT there be one result less desired by
the shop proprietor than another II is
to convict a kleptomaniac. Prosecutions
DO not forward business. The proprle-
tors policy is 10 prevent pilfcring by
every conceivable means Hence n blind
eye is turned 90 what Is n theft i'm en-
bryo. and the wrctchcd shoplifter
caught I'm the act OF purlolning a 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 al
ludcs 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 20 the
dock and gladly pay for the experience
I'm coin of the realm as II they had all
the while meant 20 purchase instead OF
10 purloin the goods. Should lenlcncy
OF such a kind fail 10 lead the trespass-
er back into tho paths OF rectitude the
Office is made the scene Of
nore serious negotiations. on which Il
Is we'll 10 draw the veil. But as rule
Il dos not Il nu.ln.n ALnu