American Notes DALLAS

Borrowing an idea from British police who noted a decline in shoplifting when life-size cutouts of bobbies were placed in stores, three Kroger food stores in Dallas have installed "scarecrooks" in high-theft areas on their shopping floors. Under each 6-ft. cardboard cutout is the slogan SHOPLIFTING IS A CRIME. Though no would-be thief is likely to mistake the cardboard coppers for the real thing, the cutouts help convey the message that pilfering is illegal. Says Kroger security director Charlie Tyner, "It's a startling way to say the same old thing."