DARING SHOPLIFTERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 19 June 1931, Page 3

DARING SHOPLIFTERS

CRIME ON TUI; INCREASE

CAREFULLY PLANNED RAIDS

THIEVES SOMETIMES IN BAIRS

Shoplifting is on (he increase m Auckland and drapery houses in pnttieular have been compelled to strengthen their organisation to stem this sui ious source of loss. Managers can baldly agree, says Ihe "New Zealand Herald,” with "the statement of a ' social worker that no shoplifters are tempted to steal through destitution, hilt they are definitely of the opinion that- the worst, offenders are not victims ot any sudden temptation, but that they work on carefully laid plans, sometimes m pairs. Some have been, consistently successful for some time. In one house it is known that the same, woman on several occasions has walked away in a pair of new shoes, leaving her old ones behind, ami these have not been, so old as to make it impossible for them to be recognised as a pair of former “free” ones. The same may be said of a woman who specialises in new hats. However, many of the “professional” shoplifters are known and they are watched from the time they enter a shop until they depart, and sometimes the fact that they are out on a raid is passed on from one shop to another. The Auckland “sisterhood”- —the shoplifters are mainly female, although they sometimes have a male accomplice —has not yet risen to the heights of ingenuity practised in Sydney; but its methods are improving, ft would not he wj.se, however, to disclose some of the smartest tricks, nor is it- necessary to give information to the enemy as to the plans of frustration that are being employed. All that need he said is that the leading shops are determined to make the shoplifters’ raids more difficult. “One of Ihe greatest difficulties,” said (he head of one large store, "is the knowledge the thieves possess that, wo must he. almost more than certain of our ground before we can risk asking a person to submit to ii search. If a mistake were made it might prove costly. This knowledge gives them confidence. “As to opportunity, most of the stealing is done on days when the shop is crowded and quick movements are possible behind the shield of the crowd. It, does not follow, however, that the thief lakes whatever is within reach at a favourable moment. I have not the slightest doubt that numbers of them inspect the stock on view, select the articles they want and concentrate their whole effort- upon getting one of the approved garments at the first favourable opportunity. One might describe them as discriminating customers. “Occasionally we are warned bv someone. in the crowd of a theft, but it is a rare thing. Those who witness a 'disappearance’ so hate the, idea of possibly being asked to give, evidence in the Police Court that they refrain from reporting. But nothing could help us more than a discreet word from thoso who have had their suspicious aroused.

“It lias been a problem always lo know how to arrange for (he maintenance of adequate surveillance of a department without running the risk of causing honest Mrs Auckland to feel that, she is being watched. As a matter of fact she is not lining watched. Wo know our regular customers too well, and we have more than an idea of who is light-fingered. However, the system of surveillance is improving and we hope that no known, customer wj.ll have, reason to feel that she is under anv suspicion.”

Apart from the ordinary method iff secreting an article in clothing or in a bag one fairly common danger is that of ticket changing, which, of course, is a form of theft. Those who attempt this practice usually select a time when senior assistants arc at lunch or busy and when a. supplementary staff is not so likely to notice the “cut price.” A new experience of one firm has been the disappearance of buttons and trimmings from exclusive garments, evidently to give an added charm to a dress that is being made at home. The lifting of handbags which have been placed on counters by customers is common and shoppers should be wary.

The linns most concerned are emphatic in the belief that the worst, pun islinient and therefore the strongest deterrent is the publication of an offender's name when the case reaches the lYilicc Court. They oppose the suppression of names because they know that (lie average thief fears publicity more than any penalty.