The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-02-14
BOOSTERS CAUSE
Of VERY LITTLE
TROUBLE
In Grand Forks, Shoplifters
Are Very Scarce-It is
an Art.
THE WORK OF AMATEURS
Is Feared by Local Shop Keep
ers-Some of Them Are
Detected.
THE WORK OF AMATEURS

Every city of any size in the United
States has shoplifters, and Grand
Forks is no exception. While, of
course, the stores of this city do not
suffer at the hands of these people
as much as do stores in larger cities,
it is figured that considerable
amount of merchandise finds Its way
out of the stores through the hand
bags and pockets of the gum fingered
ones.
There is a dear old joke that has
earned its pension on the vaudeville,
the frame work of which runs like
this:
Male comedian-Yes, gal, what you
ask.
Female comedian-Then do not tell
my mother l am stenographer.
Male comedian-And why?
Female comedian-Because she
thinks l am a shop litter.
While shop lifting may not have
been brought to stage of legitimacy
implied in this alleged joke, but in
retail stores it comes very near it.
The police name for shop lifting is
boosting" and the operations of the
booster" are quite factor to stores,
especially dry goods stores.
In Grand Forks there are no pro-
fessional boosters" but even at that
local stores are bothered more or less
by people who will persist in forget
ting to replace articles where they
found them, but who, instead OF doing
so place them in their own nand bags
or secrete them about their person.
In every Grand Forks store, the
clerks are told to keep up a sharp
look out for persons who are inclined
to get away with stuff. AS result
of this, many petty thieveries are pre-
vented, and the consequent loss re-
sulting from boosting" is saved.
Very seldom it is that shop lifting
cases come to light here. When a
person is caught in the act of steal
ing anything, she is quietly asked to
accompany the manager or clerk to
the Office of the proprietor. Being
amateurs in the business, most of
them quickly break down and con-
TESS, imploring that no action be taken
and earnestly promising that the act
will not be repeated.
The domain of the booster" is di-
,vided into three parts. In the first
section there is the professional
generally known to the police but who
as previously stated-are not found
here. In the second class there is
the class that steal and can show
no motive for it. 1t is this class OF
people that cause the most trouble
to local shop keepers. The last class
is the kleptomaniacs. AS rule,
store keepers and clerks have little
belief in kleptomania, but once in a
while they come in contact with cases
THAT almost makes them believe that
they have case of this strange man
ia to deal with. If there were NO
shop lifters except kleptomaniacs, the
stores would feel very safe.
The art of boosting" and it may
we'll be called an art as it is prac-
ticed by professionals, brings the op-
orators considerable money. To the
professional an arrest Is taken as
merely an annoying delay, and as
soon as released. she will again go
at the same work.
The amateurs, whose work is most
feared by local stores, form strange
class. Hardly, if ever, does real ne
cessity play part to prompt their
actions. only the mere desire for GER
tain things leading her to commit the
act. A number of times, women
known to be possessed OF consldera-
BILE means, have been detected in the
act of stealing. Only short time
ago, flashily dressed woman was
caught in the act Of stealing piece
of lace, but a few words from the
clerk was sufficient to have the ar
ticle put back where it belonged.
This woman was from out of the city,
and it is hardly probable that she
will ever again attempt to do any
more stealing.
Children are also caught some
times by clerks. The articles taken
by them are hardly ever OF any value,
but they have just CHANGED to catch
the eye of the youngster, who, at the
first opportunity, makes away with It.
The loss to stores through the chill
dren is very small.