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Newspaper Page Text
r sstr $ y-p; DETECTIVE BUREAU HANDS OUT ANNUAL TIP "CHEESE IT! THE PICKPOCKET!" The annual warning of the detec tive bureau against -the hordes of pickpockets which infesfState street department stores has been sounded. Chief of Detectives P. D. O'Brien, just before he was suspended yesterday, warned the shopper to beware the "dip." With the Christmas shopping rush starting on State street the smooth gentry of the quick finger and shifty eye are working harder than ever in their efforts to get the shopper's mo ney before the stores do. Of course, State street will not ad mit the presence of thieves among the crowds of fair purchasers. A wary and suspicious customer is a poor one. But the warning of Cap't O'Brien, the appointment of new "lady cop pers" on th6 police force recently, the recruiting of the store and private detective agency ranks, are unmis takeable signs that the slippery bunch are at work. Cap't O'Brien told women shop pers: Not to push through crowds in de partment stores men and women pickpockets work in these crowds. Not to carry the handbag on the arm it is "easy working" for a dip there. Not to display a roll of bills in a loop department store there may be a vicious crook at your side. Not to confide in strangers in de partment stores many of them are anxious to get acquainted with you and your roll. "Carry your money in your stock ing," said Cap't O'Brien, and don't carry more of it than you need. Now is the time of year to be the most careful. All of those apparently hap py people in a Christmas crowd are not there to shop. Some come to cop. The best proof that "dips" hang out in department stores is in the system of policing that the stores have. Until recently they had to rely on their own forces. Stores like Mar shall Field & Co., the largest, found it necessary to have two distinct sys tems. One of these is under an em ploye of the store, the other is hired from a private detective agency. Op eratives of each are often unknown to the other. With the lady "coppettes" on the job, however, things are a little bet ter. When our policewomen were first put on the force their work, it was understood, was to catch flirts, care for women in distress and do odd jobs on the police force that men can not do without embarrassment. Now, however, their real worth is shown. The best and most experi enced of these lady cops are working in State street repartment stores catching pickpockets and shoplifters. They are paid with city money. City cops; private dicks and store operatives are not enough to keep the patrons of loop department stores safe from the raids of pickpocket er perts. Only precautions taken by the shoppers herself will avail so says the detective bureau. o o CLAIMS HE OWNS LAKE FRONT AND A LOT MORE LAND The Art, institute, Michigan blvd. and Lake Shore drive, Lincoln, Grant and Jackson parks and the I. C. lake side right-of-way may all be stand ing on ground an Indian owns. Geo. M. Wheaton, Chippewa chief of Templin, Mich., today retained at torneys in joledo, 0., to come to Chi cago and lay claim to the whole Chi cago lake front Along with it he claims Belle Isle, Detroit's finest park, and 80,00 Oacres of land between De troit and Toledo. He has a bunch of documents to support his claim. .-a m& ?