Shop-Lifting in Wellington.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLV, Issue 260, 18 December 1903, Page 4

Shop-Lifting in Wellington.

STRANGIO ALLEG A.TION S. A Times represwitlative, who has l bei-n making Irfriiuiries concerning shoip-liftiinig, fiiads that this practice to a co>nisi'dlera|ble extent in Wellington. "There is not t'he slightest doubt,"' said the proprietor of one of the biggest pflaces in Cuta Street, "that s hop-lifting is on the increase in Wellington, airid there are a certain n/umfber of women who work it systematically for all it is woi't'lv. They go from shop to shop, an|d altliou'gh we go to connAlerable trouble to shepheud them while they are inside, they generally 'beat-us at the finasjh. It is most 'difficult to deal with them, especially at sale time, when we are busy. They .slip articles Under their capes. We found a woman in here the other day with an expensive cape stuffed under 'her cloak, aiitd haid it not been for the ticket hanging 'down we would haive known nothing about it. They drop them into parasols and sirtuggtlc them into perambulators outside the idqprs and windows. During a big sale wpmen belonging to the fraternity will come in half-'a-Mozen times, spend a few ponce, and make a few pou:nd&D' A proprietor of a' Lanrhfbon Quay ostablisihjment estimated bis losses anywhere between £3oo'and £2OOO.