SHOP-LIFTING.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14349, 8 May 1912, Page 2

SHOP-LIFTING.

THE POSITION IN CHRISTCHURCH.

It was recently stated that a good deal of shop-lifting went on in Auckland, but. that the testimony of business peoplo went to show that it was not increasing to any extent. Yesterday n "Press" representative saw the managers of a number of tho largo drapery establishments on the position here. Mr H. H. Smith, manager of Strange's, said:—'-Wo have had in the past a considerable amount of shoplifting, and during the last 12 months we have taken special steps to prevent it. A. number of the professional shoplifters are well-known to us and to our staff, and are carefully, watched from the moment they enter the premises till they leave. I think that thiamount of shop-lifting which used to exist was due to the offenders being treated too leniently, and we now havean inflexible rule that in every case in future proceedings must follow. We ourselves don't display any goods outside, because wo think it a bad system, and one conducive to theft. Shop-lift-ing, as far as. wo aro concerned, is almost entirely confined to women, and very little Is done, by men." "I do not think shop-lifting is' on the increase with us." said Mr E. C. Brown, manager of the D.1.G., when seen by the reporter. "Our experience is that there is an outbreak at sale times and at Christmas, and we have, instituted n. good number of proceedings during the last six months with a view to decreasing the annoyance. The worst of it is that the , peoplo caught are usually in a position" to pay for the goods. I have instructions to prosecute in every case that " comes under my.notice." . - . Tho manager of another large drapery establishment said that they had not had a single case of shop-lifting for over two years, which seems to prove ■pretty conclusively that it must be on, the decrease here. Their place, he said, was arranged-in ', such a way that the assistant in every case faced the customer, and therefore the chances of pilfering were lessened.