Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-08-06
IOVEOFGAME'
is REASON FOR
SHOPLIFTING
Chief of Indianapolis Women
Police Explains Part of
Gentle Lifters.
FEW STEAL FOR PROFIT

Love of the game is the predominant
reason for shopHftiug and larceny
among women, is the opinion of Miss
Clara Burnside, superintendent of the
indianapolis women police.
eFascination and excitement of get,
ting away with it causes the majority OF
women to take articles from stores de-
clared Miss Burnside.
"Thirty-six cases of shorlifting came
20 sae during the six months ending the.
Sres OF June, of which number four
were Juvenile OFFENDERS she said.
According to the experiences of Miss
burnside the shoplifter is not the woman
! who is poor
"Of course. we have a few cases where
the woman is in poverty, but most are
women who are comfortably fixed and In
several Instances, rich"
Few professionals are in the game, is
the opinion of Miss Burnside.
The majority of our women can not
explain what causes them to STEAL" she
eontinged.
many of them try to convince me that
they are kleptomaniacs, but it is self
evident that they are not, because they
do not repeat the same ofense.
AMATEURS RARELY
REPEAT STUNT.
Miss Burnside said it is rare for an
amateur shoplifter to repeat the per
Torrance.
..asnv of them take the most insig-
niAsant articles the first time" she said,
"and. as some OF them have confessed
themselves. they grow holder each sue
ceeding time"
shoplifting might be called the profess
sion Of middle-aged women, according to
Miss Burnside, who says the majority
are between so and 20 years Of age.
'They are women of exceedingly ner-
vous temperament and must be treated
with tact and consideration" she de-
clared.
I'VE do not slate women unless they
are old offenders, and hence many cases
which would create great scandal among
society are cared for in this department
"They are merely asked to sign a state
ment of the articles which they have
taken
Miss Burnside said that as little pub
Lefty as possible is used in getting the
offender and bringing her to the office.
ssWomen have been especially success
ful in this line of work" she said, be
catfse they can mingle with the shoppers
without notice whereas a man would at
tract attention"
A woman is never arrested until she
. is seen to take something.
Sometimes it is necessary to follow
her through several stores before we
can be certain She said, and often we
find that she has much more than We
expected"
The home conditions and the causes of
the theft are thrashed out at headquar
ters, and the woman is made to think for
herself. Miss Burnside stated
we have comparatively few cases Of
actual stealing, but mostly larceny
stated Miss Burnside.
WHERE SHIFTLESS
GIRL Is FOUND.
The girl who doesn't want TO work,
but wants good clothes, is found in this
class. according to Miss Burnside.
Pretty clothes are a temptation to her,
DAna hence during the holiday season
there are more larceny cases"
Ore girl who was Just crazy" about
pretty things dealt in hose entirely,
Miss Burnside said. and had four pair
OF IS varieties in her possession at the
time of her arrest.
The girls found in indianapolis usually
are from other cities, she said, and be
long 10 families of good standing.
The reason of their thefts is a desire
for a life OF idleness and the accessories
which go with such a life said Miss
Burnside.
This girl always takes worthwhile
articles; those which are new and val
liable"
The case of a southern girl of a high
school and business college education
who would appropriate the possessions
of other girls rooming in the same house
was cited by Miss Burnside.
Her method was to take all she could
get and then move TO another place,
where she would repeat the perform
ance." she said.
she was very defiant with me and
had the air OF having a right to take
whatever she wanted to have"
Another girl of 16 years forged
eighteen checks amounting to over $500
Miss Burnside said.
"She did not appear to have any idea
that the checks would be returned TO her,
and vaguely said that she intended TO
earn the monet to pay for her purchases.
Indeed said Miss Burnside. theft is
a psychology which 1t Is impossible for
US 10 understand"