The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-02-13

49, 4" NAA'AA - " a. A~tNN|Nt' - Nf'N 80 -
Is very rarely the case. At such times
as they are needed they rely on the
regular detective force For many
years I have done special duty. as 1t
Is called at various sales in most of
the big West End shops. A detec-
tive in the force. as you may know.
mas two holidays months alternate
Sundays To 90 on special job he
has to sacrifice one or his Sundays to
make up for the weekday he is away.
Such jobs are his own private busin-
ess, for which ne is paid by the shop
empioying nina guinea a day and
refreshment.
Before a sale all the shop assist
ants are informed that detective is
coming It is not possible to make
his personality known to every as
sistant by a formai introduction, so
word is given out that at certain
time ne will walk through the shop,
accompanied by the manager. In this
way he is recognized, and any assist
ant will know where TO find him in
case he is wanted. Suppose, for ex-
ample, that an assistant has suspic-
Ions OF a peculiar customer. She goes
toward the spot where the detective
is stationed under pretense Of get
ting a bill signed, and let's him know
that he is wanted Then it is under
stood that the first person. she adj
dresses when she gets back to ner
place is the suspect The detective
closely watches her and draws his
own conclusions.
"The autumn sales offer particular
ly good scope to the snoplifter, be-
cause the cold weather enables her
to wear her big cape, under cover of
which she commits her tnefts. as a
natural course. | expect you know
how they work. They hold up gar
ment or fur in their right hand, and
under cover of it gently draw the
stolen article off the counter with
their left hand, quickly secreing It
under the cape. Shoplifters work
generally in twos and trees. They
never retain stolen article. A slignt
kick of the foot is u signal for the
confederate next TO take It, and so 1t
is gradually and clcveriy passed to a
woman who is yards away from the
counter and could not be accused of
taking anything from it.
"A shoplifter's cape is a truly. Won
derful thing, and has as many peck
cts as a poacner's coat. AS soon as
shop thief gets away with stolen
property she gets rid of it as quick
ly as possible. How? Well, at a re-
ceiver's during sale times many OF
these receivers houses are watched.
The women know they are under Wig
liant eyes, and don't attempt to &c
near They get mold of a street urch-
in Here, Tommy, d'you want tC
learn tuppence? Then just run round
to Mrs. MISUNDERSTANDING is, and
ltell her a lady would like to see hei
lin the Red Lion The receiver goes
there, the property changes hands, as
also does the agreed cash consider
alton, and Mrs. Receiver issues forth
with the greatly reduced bargains
hung on hooks under her skirts.
"All the notorious shoplifters are
perfectly well known to us. l have
seen them at sales and bazaars, and
am sure they have gone off with ar
ticles at different times, but, Of course
could do nothing. They must be
caught in the act. It is amazing t.
me how successfully they work Oh
the stage and in fiction the shoplift
err is quite a superior person. In rea
life she is the lowest type of woman
possible. They all come from The
East End. They are common in ap
pearance. in manners. in everything
"Wny, do you think a shopliftei
would dare so back home with hei
cape? Not she. She goes to pub
lie house, takes it off and wraps it VI
in a bundle. Just berore a sale she
takes it in newspaper parcel and
leaves it in a cloak-room near the bis
West End shops Before going into
action her little boy or girl calls fol
mothers carcel,' brings it to a bar
and therefrom she issues in full wal
paint, seeking what she may convey.
That's how it is done, sir. AN
swers.