SHOPLIFTERS' TRICKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20538, 12 April 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

SHOPLIFTERS' TRICKS.

WOMEN'S AMAZING WILES.

MAULS FROM BIG STORES.

MANY CUNNING RUSES,

MENACE TO THE RETAILERS.

Thousands of pounds' worth of goods are stolen each year by shoplifters from the big stores in London. Despito all safeguards and elaborato methods of detection these thefts aro proving a menace to retail business.

While some shoplifters are merely misguided women who givo way to sudden temptation, tho vast majority aro clever, persistent thieves, who uso specially made trick bags and other cunning devices for stealing valuable goods. Figures compiled recently by a-number of big stores, i biellv women's establishments, revealed the astonishing fact that shoplifters were getting away with one per cent, of the total sales during busy periods, says a London journal.

It is generally conceded that the majority of shoplifters are women, and until recent years they depended upon their long and voluminous skirts to enablo 1 hem to get away with merchandise. Vntil the era of the short skirt and slim figure, women shoplifters wero able, to wear such things as trick dresses and double skills sewn together at tho hem, and so arranged that tliev could quickly drop stolen articles into them.

When modern fashions arrived it was thought tluit organised shoplifting was over. JiuL such is (ho ingenuity and audacity ot' this specialised type of thief that shoplifting lias actually increased year by. veai\ Private detectives ami others have concentrated recently on shoplift irg methods, and they have discovered that their wiles arc almost countless. Seine professionals work alone, some in gangs, some depend upon agility and speed, others rely upon sheer nerve for success. They plan sonio jobs for days, nntl rehearse their parts in a theft like actors upon a stage. Well Dressed and Suave Women. lit somo instances theso women ,arc successful over long periods of time. But records' show, however, that most of thorn arc apprehended sooner or later. Once finger-printed and photographed, their careers are practically at an end. Unlike the crude thieves of the longskirt days, present-day professional shoplifters are usually well dressed, suave persons who look anything but what they are. Only tho trained detective in a big shop realises that the smartly-dressed, demurelooking girl apparently fascinated by the latest shade in silk garments may be a clover thief waiting to givo a secret signal to a strolling partner. Homo women use what looks like an ordinary dress or hat box, with the label of tho store in which they intend to stoal tho goods prominent on tho outside. A false bottom or opening in the side enables thrm to push merchandise off the counter an,d into tho box without arousing ■ suspicion. Other devices that women shoplifters make use of are an elastic belt around tho waist, in which to stick small articles; kithono sleeves, where merchandise may be secreted; safety pins, with which to pin dresses and scarves to tho inside of their coats; small looped skirts concealed ■within tho usual outer skirt, large pocketbooks and handbags, and false suitcases. Tho suitcase, or box device, is one of the most surprising of all. If. is called tho " shoplifter's i>itc," and is used by professional department store thieves in aiding them in their work. Tho bottom of the box-like device consists of two hinged doors, which open inwardly when is pressed' down' upon ail object desired bv the tliief. A sudden jarring of the box dislodges the article, depositing it in tho interior and leaving the doors "in place for the next operation.. Male Shoplifters Caught. Men shoplifters are often as successful as the women in getting away with stolen articles.. Not long ago ono thief almost escaped with the bulkiest and most expensive article in tho history of shoplifting. He entered an exclusive establishment" ancl approached a tapestry worth £2500. It was about Bft. bv 10ft. in size. The man appeared to bo inspecting the tapestry. With t.he air of a connoisseur .be.felt"it at both ends, secretly jerking it to loosen its fastenings at tho top. _ Then, when'he thought no one was looking, ho pulled it to tho floor, hastily folded it up, wrapped it around his body, and covered it with his overcoat. A storo detective, however, saw him in the act, and ho is now in prison. .Another man tried to steal a Chinese rug, 9ft. by 12ft. He went into a showroom- and spfcnt much timo examining various rugs. Ono seemed to striko his fancy. Ho dragged it near to the windowto sco the effect of daylight upon the design. On tho way to the window he had to pass an emergency exit. In tho exit waited his confederate, a large overcoat thrown over his shoulder. In tho twinkling of an eye tho rug was on the shoulder of tho confederate, with the coat over it as a means of concealment. . Again tho two thieves were caught! But often such tricks as these succeed. M Cleverer still was tho shoe " salesman," who never took tho trouble to make an 'application for the job. He just made himself at homo in the shoe department. The shoes be sold were never sent. His pay. was the cash for the purchase. Ho would wait on the customers, fit the shoes, accept the cash,'promise to send tho shoes to'those who wanted them delivered, and then leave tho shop, never to return. The Boy and His Ball. Men and women often work together, and frequently whole families aro engaged ill professional shoplifting. _ Sometimes a woman will operate with a child accomplice. • A matronly shopper, for instance, holding a little boy of six by the band, walks, over to tho expensive ■ silk lingerie display counter. .Iho little bov carries a ball in his hand—ho always Ikis this ball whenever bo goes into a store. . 'Suddenly the ball rolls under the counter. The bov dives for it, and the 'nbl'ging girl behind the counter bends «!• r\-.11 to help 11im find it. In a few moments the ball is found, tho boy returns to the woman's side, and she moves (in with profuse thanks. The /'salesgirl forgets the incident in a minute. Bui. when sho checks her stock at the (lid oi the day she finds herself charged with it shortage of valuable silk lingerie. ; " Shoplifters " she may exclaim, but. tho woman with the little boy is the last one she suspects. Yet the liltlo boy was only a foil to'disarm suspicion and attract attention elsewhere while tho woman could hido tho valuable merchandise, per■haps in a lingo pocket in her expensive fur coat. Jewellery stores aro often the objective of 'tho riian-and-wornan shoplifting team. Usually they aro so well guarded and tho s|i,icl> is so well counted that it is difficult to' steal successfully. Diamond In Chewing Gum. But one (rick is for tho man to carry a small piece of putty or chewing-gum, which he sticks beneath tho counter.

lie picks up a diamond or pearl, and by a little sleight of hand drops back a spurious jewel into tlio enso before him. Mean while ho slicks tho good jewel to the t-lii'kv substance underneath tho counter. Then ho leaves the shop, without suspicion being attached to him. His companion I hen enters, examines somo rings, and. muanwhilo snatches the jewel stuck underneath the counter. She, too, is able to have without being suspected. Thus, in many ways, tho modern sliop1i it or—the woman shoplifter—is attempting to overcome tho handicap of Hie short skill. At tho samo time detectives and sales clerks are becoming more watchful. H is a continual battle of wits between the forces of law and honesty on 0110 side of tho counter and tho forces of thievery und dishonesty oil tho other eide.