The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1906-12-13
Plain Clothes Men Employed to Pre-
gent Purlolning in Local
Retail Store.
THEFT NOT TO BE TOLERATED
Merchants Take Step TO Protect
Themselves From kiepto-
maniacs and Others

special plain clothes detectives n@se
been sworn in for duty from now
ON until Christmas.
These plain clothes detectives were
Placed on Dnty
Monday. They will b. stationed in
the principal retail stores OF the city
and some Of them will make regular
beats from store to store and sys-
tenn of observation will be followed
out that VIII make # we'll nigh i'm
possible for the plllasing of mer-
chants. stocks by .hopIifters this
season as last.
MERCHANTS Forced To 1t.
The merchants were forced to take
some protective measure of this kind
this year because Of the great cost
shoplifting has been 10 them and the
present system of private police was
decided upon only after careful In
yestigadon and consideration Of the
matter. A meeting of leading mer-
chants Of the city was held few
days ago to take action on this shop
lifting business and the session re-
suited in an agreement 10 institute
private detective system in the stores
OF the city during the holiday rush
A fund was provided for this pur-
pose and each merchant subscribed
to pay his pro rata share OF the ex-
pense Of the police system.
WIN Save Money.
It is believed b ythe merchants
that the expense Of maintaining this
detective force during the holidays
VIII be much less than the loss that
the shoplifters would cause. In
fact. they will save considerable
amount of money If last years shop
lifting may be taken as basis Of
comparison
Shoplifting. or plain thievery as
It is better caller. has become to be
A Regular Pastime
among a number of people in this |
city 81 the rush times at the local
skoz It is surprising TO what ex-
tent II is practiced II is chiefly
practiced by women and merchants
are astounded to know that women
who would usually be considered
above suspicion indulge in IT.
Caught In the Act.
Last season a number of women
and children were caught in the very
act. of purloining articles from
counters and shelves of city stores.
but for the sake of their families and
in the hope that it would be a lesson
that they would remember the facts
were not made public
There are numerous ways and
in which shopiifting is
practieed. One plan is 10 have a
who engages The atten-
ion of the clerk while The other con-
,eals articles in chatelaine bag.
some have
Various Hiding Places
or their stolen articles. Sometimes
he articles are thrust into he bosom
# a dress. Not frequently smaller
,rticles are slipped into the stockings
e women who retire behind the end
e counter or TO corner under
he pretense of fixing heir garters.
Some bring wrapped up bundles that
ire in reality box with
Concealed Trap Hoor
: one side through which he plum
Ter IS thrust. Some women have ex-
"a large pockets made in their
.pirts that ere artfully hidden from
view SOM have lsr- pockets
.aved on the inside %. heir skirts
near the bottom TO be used as re- S
ceptical for their booty
The fact that some porsons steal
circles from stores wheo hey are
.ctually able to purchas= them in
fbe usual honorable way. leads some
~ the merchants TO heiieve that
bese are afiicted with
kIeptomania
+n.+,rresistible propensity to steal
..hanever the opportunity is offered. !
However kleptomania does not con-
st,,ute legal responsibility and
nose who are caught ~ to put up
tb,s excuse they will be Informed to
this eject in a forceful way. Other
persons steal and purloin deliberate
" and With malicious intent. These
are IN the great majority and it is
chiefly for these. although it is for
the others as well, that the mer-
chants have concluded TO protect
themselves against their lawlessness
this aOnday season.
az. look well, eat well or feel