The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-09

Shoplifting in the stores of Topeka
is not practiced extensively and much
less than in number of cities
throughout the country. This is due
to the vigilance of the forces employed
in the stores and because the profess
sional shoplifter usually is more sue
cessful in choosing a field of operation
in a larger city. where department
stores are more numerous.
The business houses have several
The professional shoplifter is the most
elusive. The small boys are usually
easy to detect and a good scare pre-
vents them from making another visit,
and the amateur shoplifters, who op-
crate during the rush season do so
through lack of the necessary funds
to purchase the articles which attract
their attention Other than these are
the laborers from countries of the
southern part of Europe, who either
steal through necessity or through acts
of pure cussedness.
Has Become a Problem.
Shoplifting is one of the greatest
problems that confronts the manager
of a department store today. 1t is
practically impossible to prevent it and
the people who practice such methods
are not generally known. The profess
sional shoplifter is usually known in
every department store in the city but
the amateur or those who steal on rare
occasions are numerous Tor the rea-
son that the employees of the store do
not know who they are and are re-
quired to be on guard constantly that
the loss be reduced as much as posi-
Bile. On account of this, the public
While visiting in department store is
kept under constant surveillance by the
employees Of a store and one who at
tempts to steal articles Is usually de-
tected.
TIE Wanamaker store of New York
loss at $50, 000 per year A total of 20,-
900 persons are employed by the Wanna
maker company and all are instructed
to be on watch to prevent such work
but while making sales, it is practically
impossible for the salesman OF saleslady
to watch other persons and while thus
engaged other persons accomplish the
desired purpose.
employ special guards to detect such
persons and because of this they es-
innate their annual loss at the large
sum stated. Other large department
stores, where detectives are employed,
estimate their loss at less but even at
that there are but few who have such
large stores as those of the Wanna
maker company.
Managers of the department stores
are confronted with many embarrassing
situations in connection with the de
lection. and recovery of stolen articles
The thief is usually a woman clad IN
large cape OF COdl WHICH - d NelAi-
able aid in assisting her in hiding sto-
len articles Shopping bags are anoth-
er valuable asset while many of the
professionals usually wear garments
equipped with invisible pockets which
are made large enough to secrete a
large quantity of plumber
The Small Boy Steals.
Men do not usually practice shoplift-
ing methods and the business houses
experience more trouble with the fe-
male folk than any other class. The
only other class to consider seriously
is the small boy who practices the
work but occasionally and is not haru
to detect
The small boy when detected in
committing such acts is usually re-
CURED to return the articles and then
is turned over to the juvenile court to
be given a good lecture. His parents,
If he has any, are usually notified of
tho facts and cautioned to keep the
child under more strict surveillance
The boy when detected usually weak
ems, begins to cry and then confesses