Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-15


decide to take few packages with her, "be-
cause she could not wait to have them sent
The goods, later delivered to the true
owner Of the charge account, were immedi-
ately returned, SO that the store was not long
ignorant of the fact that it had been de-
frauded. The case was referred to the store
detectives, who at once became concerned
with one question: how did the young woman
know the numbers Of other persons charge
accounts? Undoubtedly, she must have an
accomplice working in the store.
1t was customer who finally brought the
accomplice to light. One day, when this lady
was amazed to receiv- number of unre-
quested packages from second store, she
called its manager on the telephone.
81 am sorry that gentleman replied to
her comment. cit is the first case of the kind
we have had here, although understand it
boring house. They suspect that one of their
employees is involved since only someone con-
nected with the store could know the num-
bers of so many different accounts.
"Oh,' cried the lady, thinking rapidly, "I1
bet it is that nice looking, friendly clerk who
wears such artistic ties. I gave him the
number of my account at your store by mis-
take the other day, and then changed it to
the correct number at his store, explaining
my mistake" ...
An investigation proved that the lady was
correct in her suspicion. The young man in
question had been supplying his attractive
young wife with names, addresses and num-
bers Of various charge accounts and direct
ing her shoplifting efforts. For six months
the scheme had worked beautifully, and
might have continued to do so, had he not
made fatal slip by sending her to the other
store. Both the clerk and his wife are now
serving term in Blackwells Island
Most shoplifters, according to the afore-
mentioned store detective, confine their thefts
to feminine lingerie and silk stockings, prob
ably because these articles can be crumpled
without injury and are esaily concealed. Jew
elry is also highly favored by the shoplifting
sisterhood. One woman, apprehended during
the Christmas rush season of last year, had
nine string of beads concealed about her
rerson, each of which was worth about SIS.
Another woman, arrested for taking an ex-
pensive umbrella, told with great gusto how
a few days before she had calmly walked
out of store with an unpaid-for suit on, the
pockets Of which contained bracelet and a
silver vanity case Gifted from the jewelry
counter.
One Of the most irritating things the pro-
fessional shoplifter, says our friend the de-
tective, is her usually brilliant histrionic abil-
ity. When caught in the act of stealing, she
is apt to throw an emotional fit, tearfully
appeal to the women shoppers about her,
mention her little children who are depend
ent upon her, speak Of the shame her arrest
will cause her dear old uncle who is a cler-
gyman, and otherwise prey upon the sympa-
thies of the crowd until it looks upon the
lone male detective as really the guilty party
and the shoplifter as his innocent victim.
"It takes nerve to stand your ground in
such situation" he declared, "but then if
you didn't have nerve you wouldn't be de-
tective.''
sThe wife of a great botanist beamed at
him across the supper table. "But these, ="
she exclaimed, pointing to the dish Of mush-