The sun., 1908-12-13
.READYFOR HOLIDlYTHIgVEs
SPECIAL DETECTIFE FORCES on
GUARD IN TIE STORES.

vigIiant Outioak for shOpliftsrs and Pick
pockets IN the shoppiBg gCFewds-Asen
and Women Amoag Them-Women
Careless with Purses when shsPpsng.
Shop owners and their customers are
heavier losers by shoplifters and pick
pockets during the season before Christ
mas than ct any other time Of the year.
In one large store last December there
were sixty arrests Of persons charged
with shoplifting and pocket picking.
OF the prisoners ten we're employees OF
the store Itself. which has staff Of about
5000 persons, A majority Of the pris-
oners were women.
That is not saying that men thieves are
rare in the shopping district. A depart
ment store detective noticed man read
ing newspaper which was upside down.
Presently when the clerk was ct far end
Of the counter the man dropped his news
paper over a box containing thirty-eight
pairs Of gloves, grabbed up the paper
and the box and started out.
He was arrested ct the door. Heproved
TO be James Murray, better known as
Scotch Jack, one OF the most notorious
piokpockets and shopllfters In the busi-
ness, He was cent 10 prison for attempt
ing to steal the gloves. A man shopliftor
10 always an expert and usually qfter he Ii
arrested his picture is readily found In the
rogues' gallery,
Big May Cherry, Annie Gleason and
Mamie Bonner are three Of the moat skill
ful women shopIifters. They don't work
In New York or Chicago any more than
they can help because they are sure TO be
arrested on sight.
Big Mays favorite device is to secfets
her loot In false front skirt. There 10
slit In the top OF the garment. She pre-
tends TO examine goods and as each ar
ticle is looked over Il Ii dropped intoths
skirt. or rather the pocket on the front
of the skirt. and settles to the bottom,
This method has proved 90 successful
that amateurs have taken itup. Awoman
was arrested In New York the other day
who had ell but got away with Fifty yards
OF fine lace In that manner.
Detecting dishonest persons In store
is delicate task. A woman was seen
rushing downstairs from the fur depart
ment with a muff which shs had not
bought. She was stopped.
"The very idea OF thinking that was
trying to steal your muffl' she said TO the
Il was merely taking IL down
to have my sister look at Il. She 10
" waiting for me-
Persons sometimes get far from the
counters with the goods on the pretext
of taking them to the light. Once near
q street door thsy dart out That is, the
dishonest persons do.
II q salesw oman has suspicious Of any
customer she notifies the head detective's
office by means Of a signal. II tho GUS
toner starts to 60 away before assistance
comes the saleslady shadows him and tells
the various clerks she passes to inform
the detective Of her direction. II the
suspect Is a woman and an arrest Is
deemed necessary a woman detective
makes the arrest. A man In In readiness
In the background If the prisoner makes
4 show Of resistance.
The size OF detective force in large
store varies with the season. |
The ievelry counter 10 always guarded. |
When the furs como In there are always
ono or two persons who spend their time
keeping an eye upon the more expensive |
wraps. These detectives are generally
women.
One Of the most expert women detec- |
tives in New York city is Miss Rose MoCor- |
mick, who 10 employed by Sixth avenue |
store. She was formerly o saleswoman. |
It 10 from the ranks Of the sales9irls that |
most of the woman detectives are re-
cruited. Miss Mccormick is one Of the
best informed women in the United States
upon the subject OF woman crooks and
she never forgets face.
Daniel ID. Kash. who got his ssrly police |
under Big Bill Deyery apd was
A wardnan with Capt. Schmiftberger in |
the old days, is the dean OF the local de-
partmeut store detectives. He has one
of the best organized detective forces In
the city. has FIVE assistants and has
rogues' gallery Of his own.
He has been employed by one company
Tor years and has his fret mistake TO make
In picking up the wrong person. Kash |
not only oversees the arrest but follows |
the case through the various courts. act
ing as prosecuting complainant, and once |
In his clutches Q prisoner usually doesn't
get away until he lands In prison. for the |
OF convictions in department |
store arrests is very high.
A formal description OF each prisoner
Is sent 10 the Retail Dry Goods Assooia- |
tion and @ copy ID ssnt 70 each member.
In that way detectives of various stores |
can keep In touch with the arrests and |
marks of the suspects.
One familiar with the crimes Of pocket !
picking and shoplifttng committed in |
the stores said that there are about 5000 !
arrests in New York city each year on |
thcse charges. It was his Impression that |
each Of the large storee lost from $4,000 |
TO SIS 900 a year In goods stolen,
source Of difficulty to department |
store is dishonest employees. During the |
Christmas season 1t 10 always necessary |
10 put on a large extra force OF CLERKS, |
and sometimes dishonest men and women |
enter the employ Of Arm for n month or |
20 just to have the opportunity OF steal |
ing whatever 10 loose. These employees |
are often detected by pretended shop |
pere. detectives OF the store sent around |
10 make purchases. In fact these tests
inspector MoCafferty Of the New York |
Police Department declares that there |
are no women piokpookets. The depart |
naent store detectives do not agree with |
MIN. though they ad:ni. that enoh crimi- !
mails are rare. An ordinary way for q |
woman TO be robbed 10 to leave her pock- |
stbook lying unguarded while che tries |
On q hat or something OF that sort. An un- |
guarded pooketbook always stands good |
chance OF being pounoed upon. especially |
where persons are lurking about Tor that |
very purpose,
leaving their bags lying about that each |
gear Mt Christmas time most OF the stores |
have watchers out to remind purchasers /
4n. - tsna N.smn