FLAPPER CROOKS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5440, 26 June 1929, Page 4

FLAPPER CROOKS.

EFFICIENT GANGS IN ENGLAND. Women criminals are increasing in numbers and in initiative (states the “Daily Mail”). In the underworld of London young women are known to be leaders of highly efficient gangs. Not only in the higher ranks of crime, but also in the more sordid cases which daily come before the police courts, girls who are little more than “flappers’” are figuring equally with men on the chargesheets.

There are roughly three types of women criminals! ' The first and most dangerous is the well-educated, fashionably-dressed adventuress who shares in the plans and profits of the big coups. She is to be found wherever the money is, the money of the pleasure-seeker—Le Touquet to-day, London and Brighton in the season, later at Deauville and the Lido.

Sometimes she plays a lone hand with blackmail as her objective, but more frequently she is a member of an international gang that plays for high stakes. She is the Miss Moriarty of the underworld, and a very accomplished and charming companion she is until the trap closes over- the victim.

Cardsharpers and confidence men find valuable allies in charming girls, who join the gangs on a business footing. Proprietors of gambling dens also select their most efficient touts from attractive women of the underworld, who know their way about most of the capitals of the Continent. During the last few years daring women have taken an active part in the more risky crimes, such as burglary and counterfeiting, and it is suspected at Scotland Yard that some of the audacious coups in which the criminals showed exceptional initiative and resource have been planned, if not executed, largely by women. There has been a new and imaginative touch in the exploits. The second and very formidable type of woman criminal is a skilled amateur. Her speciality is shoplifting, which she has brought to such a high state of perfection that all the big stores employ highly-trained women detectives in an effort to save themselves thousands , of pounds a year. The shoplifter is driven to crime by vanity. She must have pretty clothes, silk stockings modish hats ( and she uses her brains to get what her purse will not provide. These girls work in twos and threes, one to cover and watch, the other to thieve and secrete. Many are caught weekly, but many more get away with the goods. These girls are skilled amateurs ; they steal only for personal decoration, but they are more successful than the average professional shoplifter, who is soon a marked woman.

The third and very common type is the spui'ious servant girl who gets a job in a home for the sole purpose of robbing it. >

A disturbing fact about these women crooks is tbeir youth. They take to crime shortly after leaving school, and they are accomplished criminals in their early twenties. Some of the most expert shoplifters in London are girls in their teiens.