SHOP-LIFTING. A GROWING EVIL IN SYDNEY. SOMETHING ABOUT THE THIEVES' METHODS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 40, 17 February 1908, Page 2

SHOP-LIFTING. A GROWING EVIL IN SYDNEY. SOMETHING ABOUT THE THIEVES' METHODS.

If it were possiblo to obtain figures to show the amount of petty thieving that goes on within a largo city, the general public would (says the Sydney Telegraph) bo amazed. Sydney people, for instance, if they ever study the matter at all, pTobably base, their opinion on the prosecutions in the Police Court ; and although these are ziumerous enough, they form only a very inadequate idea of the extent of this class of crime. In this reference to petty thieving particular attention is given to the- increasing "business" of shop-lifting. The word "increasing" is used advisedly, because, there can bo no hiding the fact that thieving from shops is becoming more, and more prevalent. Shop-lifters have become bolder, more cunning, and more confident. They know tho difficulty of detection. TkeiT operations are not confined to drapery and soft-goods establishments ; stationers and booksellers are exploited; as also are fancy goods retailers. Even jewellers, in whoso establishments it would be natural to expect that the value of tho, goods would make for a strict supervision, have been robbed to a pretty tune. The manner in which goods are displayed in the shops is in itself a temptation, but from enquiries made at a number of establishments where the shop-lifters operate it would seem that it matters very little to them whether the goods are displayed inside or outside a showcase. In the larc;6 establishments, at sale times especially, it has been found that if a woman is allowed to handle the goods, she is much likelier to prove a purchaser than if she Avcre merely allowed to inspect them through, tho top of a glass showcase. "Let them handle them,' said a shop-walker in a laTge city establishment, "and twice the business is done." Thus it is that the goods are displayed in the tempting manner referred to. While shop-lifting has been- reduced by the professionals to a science, so too have tho methods adopted to circumvent the operators, who are almost invariably women. Although no statistics ore available, £1000 is given as a reasonable estimate of the value , of . goods which would be lost in one year by any one of the larger firms exploited by Ihe shop-lifter. From conversation with heads of departments in several leading establishments, a Daily Telegraph representative learnt something of tho methodo employed to rob the firms and evade the watchfulness of tho shop assistants. When one of the "regulars" enters tho shop sho is under constant watch from the moment her presence is discovered. Said one gentleman, who waa questioned as 'to his experience of shoplifters, "When we soe a woman who has been convicted of shop-lifting enter the store someone generally approaches her, and in as polite a manner as possible shows her the way out. It's safer for us— and for her, too. But then there are scores with whom, although we have strong reason to doubt their honesty, we cannot adopt that course. You see it's risky. Their methods? The professional is usually equipped J with a basket or an umbrella, which ! servo as receptacles for any articles she'! can lift. Slie has no violent fancy for any particular class of goods; she will take anything that is handy. • In front Of the very eyes of an experienced' shop assistant I have seen an old hand, while ostensibly inspecting goods with a view to purchase, slide something pff the counter into hey -basket., .To be' accurate, I should say that I saw .this jn a mirror. When subsequently taxed with the 'theft the woman became highly indignant — they nearly all do; keep it' up to the very last, but the change- from ; brazen, impudent denial to tearful en.treaty is sudden and' complete. And any old lie or excuso is used to enlist the sympathy of the people 'wh'bm they have robbed, 'l'vo got an invalid husband, >and I wanted a' dress bady,' said one woman who was seen to help hereelf to a skirt ono day, but when threatened with prosecution, sho ad- | mitted that 'she was unmarried, and' had plenty of money of her own; a fact which was undeniably true, as evidenced by , the large sum she offered to be allowed off. Needless to say the [ money was refused, but on her giving a promise not to offend again, she was permitted to go, as I think she had a sufficiently sound lesson to last her, a lifetime." Occasionally professionals hunt in pairs ; one, as soon as she gets possession of an- article, passing it to tho other, who then, gets away as quickly as she knows how. This is generally the way, too, in which they get away with honest customers' purses. The one that has taken the purse will remain about for some time after th© iheft has been reported, in order to divert suspicion from herself, because she knows that even if, on the strength of her reputation, she is searched, nothing will be found on her — her confederate will be well away by that time with the spoil.