The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-08-11
SCHEMES of
SHOPLFTERS
The Clever DEVICES ny Which They
Keep the smartest Detectives
euessins-Thc Fishhook Trick.

O.. A||.| -|NtNaH IMH TN.
To detect the female shoplifter used
- be the easiest thing in the world;
nowadays her wiies can out the lynx
eyed vigilance of women detectives.
They are In all our big drapery and
furnishing emporiums--and they have
4 busy time.
>The shoplifter, bear In mind, is
not. as q rule, the homeless creature
n rags; she Is q fashionable butter
~, who fiutters about the most ex.
penstye stalls. She has a ~condeseend-
ing smile. a patronizing air. and the
majestic grace Of a newly presented
debutante. AS she sweeps along
ahoosing crowds-wearing a bag
skirt and a belt OF fishhooks. says
London Answers
This fshhook deyice Is ingenious.
rhe shoplffter wears them level with
me knee. underneath her loose and
lowing skirts. They are spaced just
far enough apartr TO keep them from
becoming entangled. To the inner
xids Of the underslirt a wide band Of
SLED six is sown. This with similar
bands around the knees, v both
he thief and her skirts from being
hooked, n permits the hooks them
selves to hang free.
The thief who wears these fishhooks
wears also two little spur-iike projec.
Hons at the back of the French heels
u her shoes. with these she picks
~ han~dkerchiefs. blouses. silk and
sther materials Of a like nature, and
misses them beneath her skirts to the
Hooks. All this can be done by an
1zpert In the most unsuspicious man
ner possible, even beneath the eyes
4 the detective. without giving that
Individual the slightest intimation Of
What rs being done.
Another thief used a large hook and
heavy sinker, these being suspended
Beneath the skirts and capable of be-
ms raised and lowered by means OF
a small reel carried inside the shop
zdzers pocket. The thief knocks the
article to be stolen off the counter, as
- by accident, and stands over 1t.
With one hand she calmly proceeds
~ lower the hook until 1t touches the
zpor and catches the blouse or piece
Of silk there. Then up comes the
hook With the stolen goods and the
v5op litter wallis quietly away.
The shoplifter when at work wears
Z drop skirt. This is a silk or sateen
Hsdns detached from the skirt at the
6eIn, but fastened TO it at the belt. It
b really a bag with a drawstring
xnssre there should be a hem, and the
ends of the tape that holds it drawn
npsEn \ slit In the outer skirt, hidden
10 folds -4.s.,s.-
Nnt long ago a woman was caught
shipping lace into what seemed to be
pocket at the side of her skirt.
When ~accosted she slipped her hand
into the slit Of the skirt and tried to
unite the string. Had she succeeded
in releasing the drawstring the goods
,xuuid' fuxe fallen to the ground, and,
Of course, she would have denied all
knowledge OF the theft.
Some women train their little
stzsitsrs to help them in their thefts.
When examining goods on the coun-
fsz they will suddenly sweep some
arucle aside. and in a flash the girl
has II in her muff. and under some
prasense, hastily leaves the premises.
me women that detectives watch
fnciufe the woman who stoops, she
who presses against the counter, and
The lady with the homemade parcel.
Them again, there are the women
who wear capes-the cape may GOV.
rr a lot 81 thieving, and among shop.
tifters of the poorer class it is inva.
rally worn.
The oma who stoops has been
Known TO swoop quite a host of arti-
sies under her skirt, and, her awk-
ssrd gait being unnoticed in the
ftrong on a sale day, walk away to
khe ladies' tea room with her plumber
FIRMLY gripped about her.