SHOP-LIFTING MANIA

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1929, Page 7

SHOP-LIFTING MANIA

TEAIPTING DISPL A YS. NEW SHOPPING .METHODS. SYDNEY, January 10. Shoplifting, always serious in Australian cities, was more in evidence than ever during the busy Christmas season, and in .Melbourne, where minor controversies are popular, they are discussing whether the storekeeper is not as much to blame as the thief, because of the way in which goods are temptingly displayed under modern shopping methods. A correspondent to one of the papers said that “ there must be something wrong with trading methods which make shoplifting too easy for women with Weak powers of resistance.” In support of that view he gave it as his opinion that goods were exposed in such a manner as to incite in respectable persons an almost irresistible temptation to steal. Commenting on this letter, the manager of a large city emporium, which has suffered heavy losses through shoplifting, said that it was ridiculous to argue that shopkeepers were to blame- for the extensive pilfering. From ancient times, ho said, goods had been displayed in the open market, so that the prospective buyers might bo able to look them over if they desired to do so. It was difficult to think of any trade which did not display its goods on counters and stands. In a large emporium there was certainly more opportunity lor theft. That was merely because it was large—just ns there would naturally be moro crime in a city than in a village—and not because the larger establishment put greater temptation in the way of weak-minded/ persons, i ickpockets always went to centres where there were great crowds, and shoplifters were the same. Ihe majority of the women who at the Courts were charged with shoplifting were old offenders. hirst oflendeis were generally dealt with at the stoic when they wore caught red-handed. Shopping methods had altered of late years. No longer had goods to he locked away. The public now demanded that tl&v should be allowed to handle the Roods if they wanted to before making purchases. It was therefore impossible for stores not to display goods, for, if goods were locked up, tin* store would lose customers. Another manager said that it was not the open display of goods that was responsible for so much shoplifting, but rather the leniency of the Magistrates who deal with the offenders. In this connexion it is stated that the other day a Sydney linn brought 10 women before the Court on charges off shoplifting, hut probably most of them are still carrying on their thefts, as most of them were let off with light fines In London, it is said, imprisonment is 'ordered in every, conviction for shoplifting. The consequence is that there has been a marked falling off in London in this class of theft The secretary of a large Melbourne store says that shoplifting m a great number of cases is not the temptation <rf n minute, but organised dishonesty. It was the practice for women to workin groups. ‘ Often a woman was seen to take goods, but when she was followed, arrested, and searched it was found that the goods she bad taken were no longer in her possession. They find been passed to a confederate, who escaped. These bands'of women were known to the floorwalkers and were watched very closely when they onteicd the store. Notwithstanding the utmost vigilance these women often succeeded in their object. It rost a gieat, deal of money to detect these women. When caught they should be made an example of.