THE BOOSTER AND THE SNITCH

Despite the arresting title, this is a serious study of how to catch a Chief and who is one. The ""booster"" is the professional shoplifter who steals with criminal commercial ends in mind; the ""snitch,"" far more prevalent (constituting 90% of all shoplifters) is the noncommercial pilferer who steals for himself. Drawing from statistics gathered by a large Chicago department store, known here as , Co., the author discusses the methods of shoplifting, the nature of the (race, sex, age, class), the types and amounts of merchandise taken by whom, the relation of private police and public offense, and finally the motivation (contrary to expectation, mental disturbance seems to play little part in the actions of the non-professionals). A technical view of the ""five finger discount"" essentially for those who have to take stock.