Severely handicapped class arrives - The Lowell

I *;-•••.••
I;
m
Shopping for free
ByCecUUWtn
A teenager enters * ltore. puts •
few item* In a bag. slip* cast the
cash regitivr. and slept Into the
street.
Typical scene, tight?
Shoplifting, however, b not Just
a teenager** "g^me." That offender
could have been •
housewife, ana executive, or m professional
shoplifter.
PeopL- shoplift for a variety or
personal reasons. A number of
Lowell students were asked if any
of their friends shoplift and ehy.
Many asserted thai their friend*
do It for "the thrill*." "the
challenge." or 'hat they "cannot
afford** to pay for the merchandise.
Othen simply believe lh*t
the item U oot worth iho price, or
*s ooc sUop-lilicr stated. "Why
psy for I*, woea 1 can get It fret."
Many adults who thopUft ban
. resxms ttmlUr to those of
- teenagers. A percentage of adults,
though, are professional
• shoplifters. Quite otoa they seU
the ftolen goods to support an expciulT*
dnif habit.
"Why pay for
it when J can get
it free."
According to the Greater
Washington Board of Trade,
shoplifting losses account for
almost SSOO mL'llon a year in a
typlctJ metropolitan area.
Most store manager* agree that
shoplifting caws Increase during
the holiday : phone
festival includes entertainment, at £92 .:6.
refreshments, and crafts fn a nine* On television, holiday cUiiics
teenth century setting. Tickets will such as Miracle on 34th Suvel,
be sold starting at 10 a.m. this White Christmas. A CUrUtnw
Saturday and Sunday (Si far Cam/, and ffs * Wonderful lite
adults. 52 for children).
will alt at various times.
The Dickens* Christmas Fair u For those wrto love to frolic In
open ever* weekend through the snow. ULc Tahoc iv Just four
Decembi.r 30 at the Foi Theatre, hours away! Bus fare It usually
located at 18th and Telegraph, In under 530. and ski lift ikVets
downtown Oakland. The fair In- range (Ftii S2^*S2S.
cludes Victorian shops, food, For those ««^o mwld Ukc to
dance, singing, and contests. kite the Bay Area, a trip to New
General admission is $9.95 and York to see the annual lighting of
chudrvn under 12 art S3.9S (for the Chrhtm»s tree at Rockefeller
information call 7?|.607I>. Center might be interesting. The
For Chriftmat ornamenti and ice-skating rink at Rockefeller
assorted holiday decora'tons. the Center U open to the public for a
Chriitrnat Store, 3067 Sacramento small fee. A ski weekend in
I Street, is the Ideal place to visit. Switzerland is another idea for I
B Another place W the newly opened those who love exotic placet. (We )
I Heritage Christmas Store in thould be *o lucky!)
DECEMBER 16,J984