Ever wonder when the first shoplifting incident took place or how shoplifting truly got its name? Well, I did and as result I found out a few interesting things. First of all, shoplifting is probably as old as time itself! Through the ages, since Adam and Eve, people have been tempted to take things that didn’t belong to them. Therefore, it is highly probable that the very first retail merchant who openly displayed his/her goods thousands of years ago also became the very first victim of shoplifting. To help in my quest to learn about shoplifting when it was in its infancy, my associate Dr. David Cherrington of BYU searched high and low for some writings to help satisfy my needs. David finally found a book entitled ‘Lives of the Most Remarkable Criminals’ published in 1927 and based on original papers and authentic memoirs published in 1735. Thanks David!
History wise, my “new” book’s first documented instances of shoplifting reported the following: “In the summer of the year 1726, shop-lifting became so common a practice, and so detrimental to shopkeepers, that they made application to the Government for assistance in apprehending the offenders; and in order thereto, offered a reward and a pardon for any who would discover their associates in such practices. It was not long before by their vigilance and warmth in carrying on the prosecution, they seized and committed several of the most notorious shoplifters about town, and at the next several ensuing sessions convicted six or seven of them, which seems to have pretty well broke the neck of this branch of thieving ever since.” Jenny Holmes was believed to have been one of the leading shoplifters of her time. “According to her crew, who, if they were to be believed upon their oaths, were inferior to her in the art or mystery of shop-lifting.” The woman who became as evidence against her (Jenny) swore so positively on the several indictments, and what she said was corroborated with so many circumstances, that the jury found Jenny guilty on four indictments: For stealing 20 yards of silk on the 1st of June 1726; stealing 40 yards of silk on the 1st of May, same year; taking a silver cup on the 7th of January; stealing 80 yards of mantua silk on the 24th of December. Jenny Holmes was sentenced to death for shop-lifting. At the time of execution, she was about thirty-four years of age. Amongst the rest of those shoplifters convicted and sentenced to death was Katherine Fitzpatrick. Katherine was convicted of stealing 19 yards of green damask on July 29, 1724; taking 10 yards of green satin on the 10th of February 1724/25; stealing, in company of another person, 50 yards of green mantua on May 5, 1725; and stealing 63 yards of modena and pink Italian mantua on February 24, 1724/25. At the time of her execution on the 6th of September 1726, Katherine Fitzpatrick was about thirty-eight years of age.
No wonder the “art” of shoplifting has improved so dramatically over the years.
Even in the early 1700’s, shoplifters were hard at work in sharpening their skills of thievery. Writings indicate the use of “diversion” by an associate thief along with booster devices were rapidly becoming “tricks of the trade”.
Mary Robinson and Jane Homes, may well be the first shoplifters convicted of using a “booster-device”. Mary was convicted along with Jane Holmes for stealing a silver cup and for stealing eighty yards of mantua silk on the 24th of December. Evidence showed that the two women had a contrivance under their petticoats, not unlike two large hooks, upon which they laid a whole roll of silk, and so conveyed it away at once, while one of their confederates amused the people of the shop in some manner or until they got out of reach. Mary Robinson, at the age of 70 years was also put to death for the crime of shop-lifting. $
