WOMEN SHOPLIFTERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 222, 7 June 1918, Page 9

WOMEN SHOPLIFTERS

TWO CONVICTIONS RI3COIIDKU.

Two middle-aged women, named rcspeelivc.lv Sfai-jfiiriH: Anderson and Mary ■llicobs, for whuni Mr. A. W. IJlair aplicai'oil, were charged in f'c Magistrate's Cnnrl ycstcrdiiy, the fonner lieiiiß cliargod wiili sloulins two tiilk l>l()ii>-ps valued, at .£1 (is., Clio proporly of .Miss I'ishcr. and Alary Jnwte with slealins a blouse and a camifplo valued at 0:3 "lOs.. th« imiperty of Miss I'islicr. Doth accused pleaded guilty. Chiol'-Dctcetivo Bndclani staled that t lie; accused went to Miss Fisher's shop in Willis Street and asked t<) be shown some blouses. In order to comply with this request Miss J'islnu- was obliged (o (jo into an jintc-roont. Later, lvlinn tha two women left the shop, the blonsos wen; missed, and the police were notinod. Dotcctivu Torrance and ConJtnble B,«rnett went to Sirs. Anderson's house, and discovered both arcused there. At first they denied having stolen the goads, but aftmvnrds adinitted their guilt. Ibo stolon property was found on the ;•-"• mises. One of the di'fendanfs was » ;■'- cent arrival from Aiibtralia. K™j,S was known nsainst them. It was difficult to say why the women committed the theft beyond the fact that they were desirous oi' becoming possessed ot fashionable articles oi' attire. Mv. Blair said that the accused had had some liquor before j?oin,7 to tho shop, nnri it was proposed when Inero to procure more. Each was in a position to purchase '.he jrannents and pay for them, and although they had only a small amount of liquor it was probable that under its influence they yielded to a sudden temptation. They were both married women, and their husbands, who knew nothing about the matter, were respectable citizens. The fact that tho accused were brought beforo thu Court, and the publicity that would-be given to the ease, would, he submitted, i)» ample punishment, and he asked that a fine 1» imposed. Ciuef-Detective Boddam stated that the women had been bailed the previous evening in sums of illO each, which they deposited themselves, and were therefore well able to pay a fine. Tho Magistrate stated that shoplifting whs very common among the women of New Zealand. The annual toll on drapers and other shopkeepers must very heavy. The practice of shoplifting among a certain type of woman was duo in. a large measure to love of finery and moral weakness. They seemed to seo mi wrung in stealing from shopkeepers, and when tho opportunity presented itself tonk advantage, of it. As the accused were first offenders and married women the Magistrate thought that no good purpose would be served by sending tb"iii 'to gaol. Each of. the accused was lined ,C 5. in default ons month's imprisonment.