New-York tribune., 1906-11-11

CNNlieiS ~ prevent ler nnQlng another place,
This method Of knocking DOWN is used by men
as well as women, but there are so MANY more
women than men behind the counters and they
are generally speaking, much younger and
more irresponsible that they furnish the large
majority OF the cases.
A SMALL TRAGEDY
Store detectives are not kept behind ordinary
counters. because most goods which can be car
ried off are not valuable enough to warrant the
expense. But behind the silver counter where
there are many small valuable articles, one Of
the saleswomen is often detective. unknown
TO her companions, receiving extra compensa-
ton a girl recently tried to carry off six
silver teaspoons in her stocking. She was simple
enough to tell one of the girls who worked be-
side her what she was going TO do and this girl
happened TO be store detective. The girl was
going 10 be married and wanted the spoons
10 help furnish her house. When her betrothed
found out about the matter he broke the en-
gagement, and she could not get place in any
store
Wearing off rings on fingers and bracelets on
the arm is a very ancient device in shoplifting.
A later scheme is TO bring a toddlng baby TO
the store, dressed all in white. Pushing into q
crowd around a counter of white waists, it is
an easy matter to cause a waist to drop to the
floor and TO pick IL up along with the white-clad
baby without much chance of detection. Last
June two young men We're caught trying TO steal
cut-glass vase. One got away, but the other
was arrested. He q we'll appearing Young
fellow in good circumstances. and for this reason
was put on probation instead OF being sent to
Jail. Two weeks ago he was caught with his
confederate in the veryt same store irving TO
steal two silk petticoats worth S12 10 apiece.
II IS a curious fact that the shoplifters take
their vacations IN summer Just Ike other people.
Business in that line always livens up in the
fall. and winter is always the hardest season
for the store detective. because of the facilities
which outer wraps afford for concealment. The
long, loose coats worn by women in the last
few years cordially hated by those who
watch for the shOplifter.
There is said to be an organized gang Of shop
Hfters operating In the big. crowded stores OF
Manhattan and Brooklyn There is a sinking
fund to be drawn upon for the defence Of menu
for constant APPOINTMENTS in the courts, eL-
haustng the time and patience of complainants
and witnesses. The gang is organized and man
aged by men, who send out low grade foreign
women 20 do the actual thieving, while the men
higher up dispose Of the stolen goods and d.
vide the money pro rata.
A member Of the Consumers League tells a
sad little story which illustrates the dangers of
exposing children 10 the temptations Of the
stores when they too young and irrespon-
sible 70 resist them. A few years ago Susie was
a schoolgirl in New York She was twelve years
old. TOO young to get regular working papers. -
but there was a law that permitted her to work
for two weeks before Christmas, when the
Christi. as spirit was abroad and had 70 be
satisfied in the big stores. Susie was very
little ignorant girl. The tenement house life
she had lived very poor and meagre. In
the store she found herself surrounded by mill
ions Of glittering things She stole one Of them.
rested for a thing like that. Instead she
discharged for stealing. The story went all
over the quarter where she lived, Susie
fred from Blanks for stealing: Susie is
thief The word followed her everywhere. In
every childish quarrel II was flung at her. She
dropped out of school account Of IL. Her
parents made her life miserable at home be-
youug-Susie disappeared from home. She has
not been heard of since.