SHOPLIFTING HEADACHE
See Bookstore ballet
Bu Elizabeth Rhodes
By Elizabeth Rhodes Go over to the Kansas Union Bookstore any day, and if you have a sharp eye, you will see a curious modern ballet.
It is the dance of the shoplifter as he steals an $8 English book, a sweatshirt, or a 19 cent ballpoint pen.
This person is a member of what James H. Stoner, bookstore manager, calls "the people without a crime." Although it is a crime, shoplifters do not consider their brand of stealing against the law.
ALMOST EVERY DAY SINCE the beginning of school, the bookstore staff has caught someone taking something. According to Stoner, shoplifters show no particular merchandise preference. They will take anything, at any time, and when caught, exhibit remorse not at committing the crime, but at getting caught.
Shoplifting, which accounts for the major store expense above payroll, is easily spotted by a professional. "I can go out on the floor, and within 20 minutes spot a potential shoplifter," Stoner said.
The person is overly cautious, extremely aware of people around him, and often "retraces his steps in an effort to appear casual." Stoner said.
SINCE SEPTEMBER 1965,ap proximately 125 suspected shoplifters have passed in front of Stoner's desk.
Shoplifters give all kinds of excuses. "I didn't have the money," is the most common. Other favorites include, "I forgot to pay;" "I didn't want to pay;" "I didn't know I took it;" "I took it for kicks;" and "I just wanted to see what it felt like to steal."
Regardless of the reason, Stoner turns the suspects over to Dean Donald K. Alderson or Dean Emily Taylor. A letter is sent to the student's parents, a record is filed in the student's personnel file, and the lawbreaker may receive a fine or disciplinary probation.
SOME STUDENTS READILY admit their guilt, while others deny having committed a crime, even when the evidence against them is insurmountable.
One extremely snaply woman student hid a pilfered book under a very figure-revealing sweater. When asked about the bulge, she said it was part of her. "It was absolutely absurd." Stoner said. "She was hoping to fluster the men and get away free." She was taken into the ladies room, where women employees verified that the strange bulge was not a gift from mother nature.
Store officials, for two weeks, suspected a student of stealing slide rules. Finally they caught him in the act. When confronted, he admitted his guilt, giving a
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strange motive for his actions. "I take slide rules because I hate them. I take them home and break them, and I won't say anymore until I talk to my psychiatrist."
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STONER CALLED THE psychiatrist, who said the student stole to punish his parents, for whom he felt great hatred.
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Stoner divides his pilfering victims into three categories: the impulse thief who steals without really thinking, the shoplifter who has a premeditated plan and knows exactly what he wants, and the impulsive thief, the kleptomaniac. Most shoplifters fit into the first category, he said.
STUDENTS TAKE DUST jackets off books, and try to pass the volumes off as their own. Some write their names in the books they want, while others just sling the book under their arm, and attempt a brazen get-away.
They hide stolen merchandise in briefcases, purses, laundry bags, and their clothing. Pockets are a favorite place. "I wouldn't be surprised to hear of a girl carrying merchandise out in her hair," Stoner said.
A favorite technique is price-tag switching. This can usually be spotted, Stoner said, because the store uses "self-destroying
tags." They are designed to wrinkle when taken off one article, and attached to another.
After working for the bookstore for 12 years, Stoner has ceased to be amazed at students' shoplifting techniques. "But I'd hate to say I've seen everything. Tomorrow someone could walk in with a new ruse." He added that this also would not surprise him.
Not only do students steal store merchandise, they also steal from store patrons. One tearful woman reported the theft of her husband's wallet. The wallet, which contained $65, was never recovered.
NINE OUT OF TEN shoplifters apprehended are men, according to Stoner. He believes, however, that a comparable number of women steal, but are never caught.
Approximately four and onehalf out of every 100 patrons is a thief. Few students apprehended repeat their crime.
"Students caught stealing do not exhibit any characteristics that make them any different from other students," Stoner said. He cited immaturity as the possible exception to this rule. Social status, money, and environment are usually not factors.
Johnson urges caution to avoid recession
WASHINGTON — (UPI)
WASHINGTON — (UP)
President Johnson called today for "appropriate caution" to keep the five-year-old economic boom rolling and reduce unemployment below the 3.7 per cent level achieved in February.
"Yet to conclude that we must proceed cautiously does not mean that we should slam on the brakes or throw the economy into reverse," Johnson said in a special manpower report to Congress.
The President ordered new government efforts to deal with manpower shortages and directed more on-the-job training programs to help employers obtain skilled workers.
The report came amid growing expressions of concern by some economists that the nation may be entering an inflationary phase because of the Viet Nam war and the continuing economic surge on the homefront.
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Colorful cartoon strips stretching across the stage introduce each scene of the KU production of "The Bed Bug," a satire by Vladimir Mayakovsky, which will be presented Friday and Saturday night at the University Theatre.
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The cartoon strips, designed by Ward Russell, Neodesha junior, depict the characters of each upcoming scene and emphasize the vaudeville extravaganza.
Russian-born Catherine Hiitonen-Ziablowa, who has acted, taught, and directed in Russia and throughout Europe and South America, plays the lead female role of Rosalie. She is also working with William Kuhlike, assistant professor of speech and drama, and director of the play.
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Jack Wright, Massillon, Ohio, graduate student, plays the hero Ivan Prisypkin who is first seen during the "new economic period" of the 1920s. Ivan typifies the bourgeois class which is experiencing newly introduced capitalism in agriculture and small business.
IVAN IS FROZEN in the ruins of a house demolished by fire. The second phase of Mayakovsky's satire begins as Ivan is unfrozen in 1989 only to find a Soviet Utopia managed by machines.
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While the first part of the play satirizes Ivan's bourgeoisie ways, the second half shows the importance of these qualities of warmth and human faults. The people, composed of the same cast, are identical in personality
of those of the 1920's. Ivan's drinking and dancing revive all the love of vices and the desire for human feeling that the utopians have suppressed.
"Mayakovsky shows that social systems may change but people never lose their human warmth and faults," said Prof. Kuhlke. Assisting Prof. Kuhlke in directing the play is Mary Heider, West Salem graduate student.
Main characters composing the cast, of 41 are Vince Angotti, Independence, Mo., graduate student, as Oleg Bard; Ann Glaze, Higginsville, Miss., graduate student, as Zoya Beryozkina; Julia Cailhan, Baldwin graduate student, as Elzevir Prioypkin; and John Morgan, Shepherdston, W. Va., junior, as the hairdresser.
Young Demos set Mar.24 elections
The KU Young Democrats' election of officers, intended for Wednesday. will now be held March 24. Election will be by ballot and all paid-up members will be eligible to vote.
KU CVD's are also invited to the Douglas County Democratic Club dinner Thursday at 6 p.m., where Senator Harold Herd will be the guest speaker.
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Daily Kansan Tuesday, March 8, 1966
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