Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-10
GUARD AGAINST THEFT
Detectives on Duty at the
Big Stores.
AN ANNUAL CUSTOM
FREQUENT CASES oF sHoPLIFT-
ING IN BUSY DISTRICT.
Instances Cited Where Persons of
Ample Means Appropriated Ar
s ticles of Value

Members of the local detective corps were
reminded of the approach of the Christmas
holidays last night when Capt. Bo2rdman
gave them Instructions to pay more than
ordinary attention to some OF. the larger
stores in which crowds of holiday shoppers
have already doubled the work of the
clerks. 1t is at this season of the year that
the shopllfters make an effort 20 reap a
harvest, and the hoorwalkers and clerks
therefore find-it necessary 10 do detective
work in addition to the discharge of their
ether duties
In some of. the stores detectives will be
employed for duty during the holiday lush,
but in most business houses the floor walkers
have succeeded the detectives, aal the serv-
ices of the private sleuth can be dispensed
with The custom of the chief of the de-
tective corps to assign men to duty In the
crowded stores has been in vogue for
number of years, and in the course of busy
seasons the men so employed nave sue
ceeded in saving the merchants thousands
of dollars.
While the uniformed policemen perform
valuable service on the streets about the
crowded stores their presence i'll tue stores
would not always result satista ctorly. In
the first place, the petty thieves would be
able TO see them at a distance and would
not attempt to do any stealing while under
observation. Another drawback would be
found in the inability of most Of the police
men to recognize the professional shoplifters
or the ones who are known to the detectives
as kleptomaniacs. Included in the latter
class are women who do not steal through
necessity for they are abundantly supplied
with this worlds goods.
Views of a Detective.
There is no reason why such pei sons
should take what does not belong 20 them"
remarked detective to a Sta" reporter
last night, but there is frequently good
who get arrested. AS rule the latter
class do stealing that amounts to much less
than that done by persons vino are well
able to buy the goods they take. Those
who can afford to make purchases usually
take articles such they would buy to
present to their friends, and such persons
have better opportunities than the poor
woman or child whose apparel Is calculated
to attract attention.
silks. satins and costly fancy goods are
what the so-called kleptomaniacs' take,
while any ordinary article. from 5-cent
! doll to a box of toys, will suit those who
are denominated shoplifters. 1t may be
| that there are some women in the world
who cannot help taking property belonging
| to others, and 1t may be all right to call
| them something other than shoplifters, but
| In reality there is none or little difference
| between the two classes.
Difficult to Explain.
| II can recall one ease" remarked the de-
| tective, Sin which woman In this city
| might properly be called something other
| than an ordinary shopllfter but it is diff
| cult to explain her conduct. Having been
arrested several times. and her relatives
not being willing to have her placed in an
asylum, they adopted the plan OF having her