Shop Lifting.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1923, Page 1

Shop Lifting.

CORING WITH THU EVIL. AUCKLAND, Jan. I. According to most business people approached, the planning of improved supervision oi sales on ami outside the counie: . and the policy of warning oil’ w here ihe symptoms were acute and ol tactful but very obvious enquiring' in doubt fill cases, had helped very largely to head shoppers off from the temptation ol picking and stealing. At any rale, whatever the cause, all were agreed that shops were never freer Horn the sliop-lifiing pe-j than during the receiit (hi istma.s rush, and they are of opinion that, witii the continuance of improved observation, combined with the warning-ofF system in doubtful east's, and releniless publicity in delected oases, this class of crime w ill bo kept to a minimum. As an instance of the preparedness of shopkeepers in this respect, ii is mentioned that on Christmas Kve, when one of the big houses was crowded and the electric light suddenly failed, a row oi lighted candles and half-a-dozen shop assistants appeared, like magic round (lie cash register, and almost before shoppers had realised what had gone wrong, the whole of the affected department was like a fairy chamber, aglow with dozens of waxen lights. The transformation scene was not a matter of entertainment, lni( of sheer hard-headed business