SHOPLIFTING DEVICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20982, 19 September 1931, Page 2 (Supplement)

SHOPLIFTING DEVICES.

TRICKS OF THE TRADE. TASK FOR DETECTIVES. SYDNEY REVELATIONS. Shoplifting is very prevalent in Sydney just now, and most of tho big city stores are having a busy time protecting their goods. The devices and tricks used by tho shoplifter are many and varied. Nearly all the larger shops employ their own detectives, trained men arid women who walk about among the crowd and are a part of it. They aro constantly on the alert for pilfering. Many a customer makes his or her purchase under the eye of a shop detective, without knowing it. But it is obviously impossible to detect every case of shoplifting, especially thefts by men and women who aro so adept that the hand is entirely too quick for the human eye. A common trick is for the woman shoplifter to choose a hat from a stand, put it on, and leave her old ono in its place. Very often the trick is successful, and quite a lot of old hats are found after closing time. Many shoplifters, however, do things on a much larger scale. Carrying suitcases or bags, they appear to tho casual eye to be the ordinary shopper, searching for bargains. Oaught in the Act. Caught in the act of stealing a pair of expensive stockings, one woman shoplifter was taken to tho office, and thero it was found that a largo suitcase sho was carrying was a trick one, and was so ingeniously constructed that sho was able to slip many valuable articles into it with little fear of detection. There was a sliding leather panel in the top of tho case. When this was pushed back there was a gaping hole in the case. A. barely notice,nblo sweep of the hand toward tho case just below the counter, and stockings, perfume and other articles disappeared with lightning rapidity under the very eyes of tho shop assistants. Ono of tho cleverest tricks perpetrated in the city was brought off successfully not very long ago. A young couplo entered a big city jeweller's, and asked to be shown some engagement rings. A tray containing some very valuable rings was placed before the couple, and the girl blusliingly tried on two or three. Nono of them met with her approval, however, and the couple turned to go. Diamond Ring Disappears. It was tlien that the assistant discovered <hat one of the more highly priced rings, a diamond solitaire worth £SO, had disappeared from its place on the tray. Tho couple indignantly denied any-knowledge of the ring, and, although they protested angrily, there was no trouble in getting them to the manager's office. A search by a policewoman failed to show any signs of a ring. Roth the man and the girl were able to establish their identities. Both held positions in the city, arid, of course, there was no alternative other than to let them go. They went, full of indignation. The ring was not found. It had never left the shop, but it did the next day. The girl had been chewing gum when she entered the shop, and while looking at the rings, she slipped tho sticky mess under a groove in the counter, "it stuck, and when the unsuspecting shop assistant's eyes had left the tray of rings for a fewseconds, the most valuable one was slipped under the counter and stuck into the gum. There the ring remained until the next day, when a confederate walked in, mado a small purchase, slipped his hand under the counter, and recovered the ring. The story came out after the young couple had been caught for moro clumsy stealing. Detective's Pockets Picked. A young was arrested in a city store only a few weeks ago. Sho was taken to the police station by u shop detective in a taxi. On the way she picked his pockets of a watch and chain and money. Cash-and-carry stores aro tho worst sufferers from petty thefts, and most of the big stores lose a tremendous amount of stork yearly, despite tho huge number of shoplifters arrested and convicted. Some have been known to stock and open shops with the goods they have stolen. But generally they are greedy, go back for more, and eventually arc caiy^ht. Shoplifting, of course, is not confined to women. Men are also active. Only a fortnight ago a man • walked into a tailor's shop, was fitted with a new suit, and, when the tailor's back was turned, walked out wearing it. Man y men and women in good positions, in receipt of good salaries, and who do not lack money, are caught regularly. The reason for their petty thieving is a puzzle. One woman arrested recently had £3O in notes and silver in her bag—and she had stolen a few articles worth about <^ s - A professional man holding a high posit ion of trust was convicted at tho Central Court for stealing two books worth Is each. Well-dressed Woman's Trick. One of the big city houses was cleverly tricked some time ago by a well-dressecl woman, who chose a fur coat valued at £3O, and tendered in payment a £SO note. She became indignant when tho note was sent upstairs so that thero would bo no doubt as to its genuineness, and told the worried shop assistant that sho would not take the coat. The note turned out to be genuine, but the lady walked out. without buying the coat. She returned just on closing time, however, and said that- she would take the coat after all. She tendered a £SO note, and it was immediately changed. But this time it proved to bo a very poor imitation. It was not until the day, however, that the false note was detected.