DEVICE FOR SHOPLIFTING

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1934, Page 6

DEVICE FOR SHOPLIFTING

MOST INGENIOUS SEEN BY POLKX CONVICTION OF AUCKLAND WOMAN By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. One of the most ingenious device* used for shoplifting purposes that has come under the notice of the police was produced by Senior-Detective Hall in the Police Court when Edna May Gallaher, aged 30, cigar-maker, pleaded guilty to two charges of theft. She was charged with stealing four pairs of bloomers and .six singlets of * total value of 15s on April 6 and on the same day stealing a singlet valued at 3s lid. Senior-Detective Hall produced a cardboard box about 18 inches by 12 inches wrapped in brown paper and tied with string. He gave a demonstration showing how the woman stole articles of underclothing. She would place the box over the article she desired, insert her hand through one end, which was left open, and then pick up the desired garment through a slot on the underneath part of the box. “She was discovered when a shopassistant was surprised to see a singlet disappear underneath the box,” added Senior-Detective Hall. “Accused then placed the cardboard box under her arm and left the shop, but she was followed and arrested. The box was found in her possession. It is a very cunning arrangement deliberately made for shoplifting purposes and it looks as if it has been used on other occasions. It is so cleverly made it. should be the property of an illusionist." ( “You really deserve 21 days’ imprisonment for deliberately making a contrivance for shoplifting,” said the magistrate Mr. F. K. Hunt, in admitting the woman to strict terms of probation for 11 months. “I will take a risk and a chance in doing this and I suppose the Court will get abused for doing so.”