SHOPLIFTERS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16603, 5 December 1924, Page 9

SHOPLIFTERS.

fIAOI. FOB OFFENDERS. (Special to the Herald.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Tim sentence of one month’s imprisonment imposed' on three Women shoplifters had caused a good deal of comment.

A reporter discussed' the. matter with a leading member of the Bar, who stated that there was a policy in the law' in New Zealand that the. first offender should always be given a chance of redemption where the case did not show a. fixed criminal intent. “Why,” Insaid, "probation is in some cases even given to postal officers who had betrayed their trust.” The policy was to avoid making a criminal of a woman Inputting a first offender in gaol. In shoplifting cases t here-- * was usually a powerful, sudden impulse. The whole idea of giving such heavy punishment seemed to he to protect the “wretched shopkeeper,” who, foolishly, placed Jiio goods right- under the noses of the people for his own profit, charging very good prices for his wares. Shop keepers’ own clerks very often stole money and what did they get. in the way of punishment? Why merely probation in many cases. There should be no line of demarcation drawn. He considered that the sentences imposed in the cases were far too heavy. It was contrary to.the humane theory that, first offenders should hr given a chance and punished by the infliction of a fine, but I hey should not bo herded with criminals whose influence was far from unlifting and far from likely to make them penitent. “I consider the- magistrate is to he commended on his pluck in giving these women a month’s imprisonment,” said tho manager of a big drapery establishment, to-night, i Hq lias done tile right thing. Another drapery bouse was looking for a person who bad stolen another piece of silk,” lie continued, “and they intended! to make an example of the. thief if catigbt, no matter who b-e or she may be. - The drapers bad no means of protecting themselves. Dishonest people could take goods off the counters, right in front, of assistants’ noses without a chance, or very little chance, of catching the thieves. About the only preventive; measure that eottld lie taken was for drapery houses to combine in the employment of two or. three detectives, who could be on the watch all the time.” Here female shoplifters,” he said, “get cheekier and’ cheekier with every theft and, finally land themselves into serious trouble.” It was very seldom that men were offenders, lio said- The work was generally, if not always, that of women, who -would even take the soap and towels out of lavatories. They seemed to have no conscience.

~T~~ RETAILERS’ DETERMINATION

(Special to the Herald.)

CHRIST CHURCH, this day

Discussing tile shoplifting oases an executive officer of the Christchurch Retailers' Association made Jhe following statement : “l»have had the ■opportunity of observing the methods of these people for years and in nearly every instance where tne offenders have been brought to book they are people who ale known to the shopkeepers generally as being light/ lingered, and 1 it is only ivy constant vigilance that there is any chance of Hatching thorn in the act of stealing. Shopkeepers have suffered from tiie depredations of these people for rnnnv years, and there are innumerable instances where offenders have been let off with a caution, but so much has been suffered through loss of goods in this respect that the patience of retailers generally hits' become exhausted, and it is the general practice* now to call in the police, without exception, as we feel that that is the only possible way in which the practice can be stopped. Magistrates, too, are evidently taking the same view. Whereas the offence used to be met at one time by probation or a fine, it has now become the practice to give a term of imprisonment, and as time goes on the taitehces are becoming more severe. I can say with confidence, and my fellow retailers, I am quite sure, will agree with me, that shoplifting by women is becoming a profession, and there are many women still free who are well known to the retail trade of Christchurch generally ns being of Ibis undesirable class. We have tried all means to less the evcl, but have most reluctantly come to the conclusion that the only way to stop this ‘undesirable practice, and to protect ourselves is to do as we are now determined to do, that is, prosecute in every case without, exception.”