Shoplifters Use Wire-Cutting Tool

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 803, 25 October 1929, Page 1

Shoplifters Use Wire-Cutting Tool

LOSSES FROM SHOPS BUSINESS MAN’S REPLY TO PAWNBROKER “A challenge to come out into the open has been issued in a statement to THE SUN by a pawnbroker. I presume he asks us to give chapter and verse in support of our claims, naming the pawnbrokers concerned. “This is pure bluff, as he knows he is protected by the laws of libel. I could name three pawnbrokers from whom I myself have secured stolen goods.” This was the statement made to The Sun tpday by a Karangahape Road business man in supporting the recently published attacks on shoplifters by the Karangahape Road Business Protection Society and the Auckland Retailers’ Association. The Sun on Wednesday published an account of a court case m which it was made clear that a thief would have escaped afetr selling to a pawnbroker had it not been for the action of a detective who happened to pass by,” the business man said. ‘‘ln commenting on the case, the magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., said that they took place nearly every week. I remarked also that goods in shop doorways might be fastened securely. "In reply to that I .have to say that a colleague of mine fastened boots in his doorway with wire. They were cut free with a wirecutting tool. "In the case of one of my shops I decided to fasten goods very securely to a pole. The thieves could not release them so they tok the pcrle with the goods on it. "It is not correct to say that we do not hand over shoplifters when they are caught. In one or two isolated cases thieves may be set free because of special circumstances; hut, time after time, we have handed them over to the police. Each time I catch a man I make an example of him.” Referring to the Chamber of Commerce’s decision made at a meeting yesterday when the shoplifting evil was discussed, he contended that the chamber had withheld its support because it considered that the selling of stolen goods to pawnbrokers was only one of the means used for disposal. "Nevertheless,” he said, “it is the most important one, and even were it not the most important, it is essential that we should close every avenue.” “In each case where we have discovered stolen goods In the shop of a pawnbroker we have been obliged

to pay the puchase price before we could recover. This is a gross anomaly, and should be removed. "In support of my contention that shoplifters steal with the knowledge that probably they can sell to pawnbrokers, there is the case of a notorious shoplifter who was caught the other day stealing size 6 boots. He is a big man and takes size 10. If he weer stealing the goods for personal use. surely he would take the right size.”