SHOP-LIFTING

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 40, 16 August 1916, Page 10

SHOP-LIFTING

A SALE-TIME EVIL

EXPERIENCES OF DRAPERY ES

STABLISHMENTS.

One of the problems that confront retail shopkeepers at this time of the year, when, the sale season is in full swing is that of detecting the petty pilferer Proprietors of the large drapery establishments are always morally certain, after ,1 sale has concluded, that there lias been a certain amount, of unauthorised "stocktaking" on the part of some members of the public, although, perhaps, the)' have no tangible proof. The female shoplifter is generally too cunning to be detected in the act of purloining little articles of dress, and consequently it is very hard to obtain sufficient evidence to warrant a conviction. Recently there was a case in Christchurch in which a woman, whose houso was found to be full of articles stolen from drapers' shops, was convicted of theft, but practically escaped any punishment. As a result there is a good deal of feeling • among proprietors because she was not made an example of, especially as it is only occasionally that charges of such a nature, can be substantiated up to the hilt. Indeed, so dissatisfied are the Christchurch proprietors that they have suggested to principals in other parts of New Zealand that a deputation, representing the whole of the Dominion, should wait upon the Minister of Justice, and point out to him that offenders are too leniently dealt with, and that such leniency does not tend to act as a deterrent on other wrong-doers. Whether this course will be adopted or not is yet under consideration.

Enquiries were made by a Post reporter to-day as to what extent the annexation of "unconsidered trifles" has prevailed in the large drapery businesses during the sale season. It was pointed out by one manager that when a sale was on it was desirable that as attractive a display as possible be made. Consequently, goods were scattered about in. all directions, and in the crush of customers <t was a comparatively easy matter to purloin a pair of stockings or some similar article At the last sale held by his house, he said, the only article actually posted as missing, believed to have been stolen, was one of the latest models of hea-dwear, which disappeared mysteriously out of a hatbox. The disappearance caused more perturbation than would otherwise have been the case because it was for a bride-elect, and she had to go to the altar in a hat that was not her first choice. Last year a far more serious incident occurred, the same firm losing a thirty-guinea fur coat and also a. set of furs. Detectives prosecuted enquiries, but the culprit was never brought to book. Other managers said that the evil existed, and they took all precautions to detect it. It was very difficult to keep a check on all the goods displayed, but this was done as far as possible, and dishonest people ran a big risk of being detected. One firm, which used to prosecute when sufficient evidence was forthcoming as to thefts, has of late years discontinued the practice, but, with a view to putting a stop to shoplifting, has. decided to again take Court proceedings in future.