The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-12-22
Shoplifting Limited
During Holiday Rush


across n OF these glue-hngered wo-
men who has al inventive turn Of
mind.
Not so very long ago a woman sus-
pect was arrested n searched. The
goods she bad stolen were found
hanging 10 many hooks which she had
carefully sewed to a heavy underskirt.
some OF the shoplifters also put gen.
erous pockets In their skirts, where
they can BE- easily reached from the
outside. Ia these they secrete the H.,
licit fruits of their shoplifting.
b arrest Of one OF these light-fn-
gered and hSavy-muffed women never
raises a ripple on the tranquility OF a i
busy department store scene.
VIII you come with me for a min
ute" says the polite fOOrwalker. He
puts II a. a polite request. but the
polit request accompanies a look that
cant be mistaken. They 20 TO the
managers Office. Anything may hap.
pen after that. If the thief is just a J
woman who was tempted too strongly
and fell the first time. she may be
sent home with a warning. after her
father or husband IL communicated
with. IL she Is stubborn and acts in
an ill-tempered manner she nay be ar
rested and taken 20 the police station
10 be booked and bailed. At her trial
she makes a statement something like
this:
Il really don't know why / took the
things. | had plenty OF money, and
my husband has a charge account at
the store. but as ] stood by the counter
an impulse came upon me that I
simply couldn't resist. and before
knew what I had done ! had taken the
lace and crammed II into my nun.
! cant explain why ] did it must
have taken something that unbalanced
my mind for a time"
Those who have carefully studied
phases OF the kleptomainia phenom-
enon have declared tina there are few
genuine kleptomaniacs-persOns who
cant keep from stealing. They say
that by far the greater number of So
called k~leptomania cases are simple
cases Of momentary temptations that
couldn't be fought OF. The woman
was standing by the counter on which
was "A shade OF shimmering silk that
she desired very much and which she
didn't feel she could afford on account
OF Christmas expenses. She could see
no n who appeared TO be watching
her, and the thing was done. Her de
sire for the piece OF silk. backed by
the seemingly small chance of her be
Ing detected, oyercame her natural
honcsty-or caution. Practically AL
arrests are made after the lady with
the bullying mum has left the whiriing
doors OF the tore. That Is to avoid
risks OF annoying lawsuits. There Is
always the bare possibility that the
saleslady or he i~oorwalker may be
wrong. and II such were the case. suit
would be Immediately filed against the
store for false arrest and defamation
Of character. or some OF those many
hooks that one can hang a lawsuit on.
~ has been said that b dendrt.
ment stores losses al the shrewd
hands OF shoplifters each year would
total several thousands Any depart.
mcnt store manager will admit that
his firms losses from goods that dis
appear mysteriously run high every
year.
Shoplifters. however. form ONLY a
small percentage Of the crowds whose ,
scurrying feet are raising the Christ.
mas dust from the floors 81 shops n
department stores The buying has
been going on for some time now.
and ga the last week all scmblance ~
leisure has passed. From now on
come the shoppers who have against
all advice been flirting with the thief
Of time They have the hunted look
Their arms are filled with bundles.
and there are more 10 be delivered b.
TO o'clock IN The morning Heaven
knows where they VIII be hidden
Even Of This late date. according 20
The shop Girls. there is rather p law
average % real. Intense buyers 30 the
lot.
The rest are Just lockers do
clarrd a blonde vino uul sell you any
thing in the line of the stores toy
department.
just what YOU ash. mystined
Just lockers -fhp style ~ hot foot
dame That makes death worth dying
Tor the average saleswuman u isn't
the buying ones thn. have 90 be- wait
Cd on Tor hours That drive us insane
us these lockers You soc one or
fhom pulling over the GOODS on q
CONNER Was transferred from tho
ready fo-wear section and you aak
whether there ID a0mcthing you can
Do for her today so eho saws I'm
just looking and keeps rIrhf ON
picking over the things that YOU have
10 stralFhten They never are known
10 bry anything Q have "a bunch that
They are a class % bugs that jus.
spend their lives pulling over the
GOODS tn department stores