Evening star., 1923-12-14
SHOPuF:T|NG GANG
OVERRUNS CITIES
Greater New York Reports
Young and Old Engaged in
Christmas Thieving.
BY ROBERT r. SMALL.
Special Dispa tch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, December 14-An
epidemic OF shoplifting is sweeping
Greater New York and police reports
from other cities indicate that the
annual period of pilfering is on in
earnest elsewhere in the United
states and Canada. The pitifulness
of 1t all is that much of the stealing
is done for Christmas. and still more
in an effort by women to keep up .ap-
Isarances.
At all times Of the year shoplifting
Is one of the most difficult crimes
with which the police OF a city have
to deal. AT this particular season it
is especially painful. Yet the losses
which merchants suffer in the ag
vregate from what might be termed
the impulse stealing Of women have
grown to such proportions as to call
Tor drastic treatment One large de-
Dartment store in this city recently
turned over fourteen shopliftcrs to
the police in ono day. How many
more thcfts went undctected the
store manager could not say.
ExtravaEant Living Ono Cause.
Extravaganza OF living today is
given in many instances as the ex-
cuse OF women taken into custody for
shoplifting. One of the women arrest
ed within the last week gave her ad
dress as one OF the government
hotels in Washington, indicating that
was charged with stealing a dress
valued at S4e.50 from a store in saith
street just off 6th avenue.
Ages OF the shoplifters taken into
custody here vary almost from the
cradle TO the grave. That is one
OF the saddest aspects of the wave
which Is sweeping the city. a girl
OF ten and grandmother of sixty
fve recently were arraigned side by
side before the desk sergeant of a
West Side police precinct. The girl
gave her name as Catherine Miller.
She was seen to take cheap brace
let from a counter that was fairly
inundated with the baubles. The de-
tectiFes at the West 30th street sta
ton, in questioning the girl, discov-
cred that she had purse with
s17.67 in 1t.
Where did you get that money >"
asked one of the detectives.
"Oh, I snatched II from a woman
in Gimbers a little while before they
caught me with the bracelet" the
girl replied with all the nonchalance
of the confirmed crook
Don't you know that that is a
very wrong thing for a little girl
like you to do?" the officer of the
law demonstrated.
don't tnlnR so, SAID catherine,
lots Of little girls are doing that
now"
Held rs Juvenile DELINQUENT.
A charge of Juvenile delinquency
was lodged against the girl and she
was given into the custody of her
mother until the case can he heard
Half a dozen girls between the ages
of twelve and sixteen have been ar
rested within the past few days. They
had stolen stockings, books, perfum-
cry and small bits of jewelry. Slender
purses and desire by the girls to
have things which other girls in their
set were wearing were the contrib
utinS causes to their delinquency in
each case.
One girl OF nineteen was arrested
for stealing $25 worth Of artists sup
plies. She gave her address as quite
fashionable New Jersey suburb and
said she needed the materials to go on
with her work.
Silk stockings, fascinating bits of
lingerie, cosmetics and perfumes are
the articles in which the department
store losses are heaviest.
The reason for this. of course, is OBJ
vious. Such articles are easy TO
snatch and conceal Furthermore.