Year: 1879

SOME OF THE DEVICES OF THIEVES.

 It is not often that what is known as ''shop- lifting" brings much ingenuity to the fore, yet there are sometimes rather remarkable excep- tions. One of these may be instanced in the female shop-lifter not long since arrested for committing robberies from drapery establish ments in somewhat singular manner. When setting out for her predatory expeditions she wore large, flat shoes, and had the toe part of her stockings cut off to form sort of mitten :; and being very dextrous with her toes for pre- hensory uses, she was able to pick articles from the floor and secret them in her slipper. In looking over some pieces of lace in shop, she had, while the assistants attention was di- rected elsewhere, dropped one or two and adroitly secreted them as described.

 As bright an example ofperverted ingenuity was developed in Paris during the time of the Exhibition. Three persons, it seems, are nec- essary to carry out the trick, the modus oper- andi of which is as follows: A man, accom- panied apparently by his wife and daughter enters shop in which the articles lie about a little carelessly, and the gentleman at once goes up to the head assistant behind the coun- ter and makes a confidential communication. II must warn you" he says. ''that my wife is afflicted with kleptomania. Be so good as to watch her, but do not say anything to her

 

 suspicion" The elder lady is consequently watched with great care, all the shop being on the alert. Some article is piIfered in due course, the theft noticed, and the gentleman on going out quietly and promptly pays for what has been taken. While the shopkeeper is congratulating himself on the honesty of the husband, the trio are making off with a valu- = able booty secured by the younger lady, whose movements had not been watched at all. But the best part of the stratagem remains to be told. In case the disappearance of the articles l really stolen should be received little too soon, and the party be followed by the indig- nant shopkeepers, nothing is easier than to ex- press regret and surprise that there should have been other mistakes, and to return the articles with profuse apologies. By this ruse a considerable degree of safety is insured even if the swinders are baked of their booty the scheme provides for escape as we'll as for suc- cess.

 A German in Paris lately adopted a plan which was successful in despoiling shop-keep- CTS of their goods. Provided with loaf of bread, which he carried unconcernedly under | one arm, he would saunter up an down in front of the shop windows, till, watching his opportunity, he would seize some small article exposed outside or otherwise within his reach and secrete it in his loaf. Suspected, and at ! last arrested, he was subjected to strict l search, and was on the point of being released when some one thought of the loaf, which the accused had laid unnoticed on form. On examining it, watch. some rings and other missing articles were disclosed to the surprised spectators, and another swindling dodge thus exposed

 Equally successful for time was another system of robbery practiced not very long since in the streets of London. A man dress ed like a clergyman would walk about the crowded thoroughfares carrying half opened umbrella ln his hand Innocent as that useful article appeared, it was acting all the time as a convenient receptacle for sundry articles of value dexterously slipped within it's folds by two or three female pickpockets, who were active in thclr depredations among the foot passengers, but were captured, together with | their respectable looking accomplice. Thefts by means of any kinds of ruse are bad enough, but when they are committed un- der the cloak of religion they are immeasur- ably worse. A sister of charity called on a family in Paris to enlist their sympathies for the poor she was most pleasant and attractive in her manner. Eventually she induced those present to join with her in an act of devotion and the party knelt side by side in the draw ing-r room while the sister offered 2 prayer From the time of her entering the house and during this,act she had kept her hands crossed upou HUI UOoo'll. W HUH, GHCIClOIC. III CAC middle of the prayer a lady felt somebody's hand in her pocket, it required some nerve to seize the sister and accuse her of theft. This she nevertheless dld; and then the mystery was solved. The crossed arms were of wax, and, being partially hidden under the sleeves, seemed real, while the actual hands were at liberty to enable the lady to pursue her fraud ulent calling.

 The Bill Sikes fraternity, in following out their profession of house breaking. sometimes give evidence of an amount of ingenuity wor- thy of better cause. A burglar concealed under the bed of a married couple by some in cautious movement almost betrayed his pres ence, the noise he made being sufficient to make the wife call her husbands attention to the sound. ''Ils only one of the dogs" was the sleepy answer, and, snapping hls fingers, he called by its name one of the favorites, which was supposed to be present. The thiof's presence of mind did not desert him though on the brink of discovery for divin- ing the situation at once, he immediately lick ed the extended hand in the hope of confirm ing the gentlcman's surnise. This clever ruse was not, however, we believe. successful, though one ght say It deserved to be for it's boldness and ingenuity. Chambers Jour- n0l.