英语翻译
MostshopliftersagreethattheJanuarysalesofferwonderfulopportunitiesforthehard-workingthief.Withtheshopsocrowdedandthestaffsobusy,itdoesnotrequireanyspecialtalenttohelpyourselftooneortwothingsandescapeunnoticed.Itisknown,inthebusiness,as"hoisting".
Butthehoistinggameisnotwhatitusedtobe.Evenattheheightofthesales,shoplifterstodayneverknowiftheyarebeingwatchedbyoneofthoseevillittleballsthathangfromtheceilingsabovethemostdesirablegoods,theycannowbefilmedatworkandobligedtoattendashowingoftheirperformanceincourt.
SelfridgeswasthefirstbigLondonstoretoinstallthisequipmenttowatchitssalesfloors.Inoctoberlastyearthestorewonitsfirstcourtcaseforshopliftingusingasevidenceavideotapeshowingaladystealingdresses.itwasanimportanttestcasewhichencouragedotherstointallsuchequipment.
Whentheballs,calledsputniks,firstmadeanappearanceitwaswidelybelievedthattheironlyusewastofrightenshoplifters.Theirstrangeappearance,thecuriousholesandredlightsgoingonandoff,certainlymadethetheorybelievable.
Itdidnottakealong,however,forseriousshoplifterstostartshowingsultablerespect.SoonaftertheequipmentwasinoperationatSelfridges,storedetectiveChadwickwassittinginthecontrolroomwatchingawomansecretlyputtingbottlesofperfumeintoherbag.
"Assheturnedtogo,"Chadwicksaid,"Shesuddenlylookedupatthe'sputnik'.Shecouldnotpossiblyhaveseenthatthecamerawasfocusedonherbecauseitishidden,butshemusthaveafeelingthatIwaslookingather."
"Foramomentshepaused,butthenshereturnedtothecounterandstartedputtingeverythingback.Whenshehadfinished,sheopenedherbagtowardsthecameratoshowitwasemptyandhurriedoutofthestore."