r1g0r

Source: UPI

NEW ORLEANS (UPI) -- As if Hurricane Katrina wasn't enough to deal with, clothing stores in New Orleans are being terrorized by a gang of cross-dressing shoplifters.

Wearing brassy blonde wigs, stiletto heels and skintight tank tops, the designer-purse toting bandits have hit at least half a dozen times since shops along Magazine Street reopened, USA Today reports.

The female impersonators don't seem to be carrying weapons and instead employ props like fake babies to distract shop owners and employees.

"This is the way they get the stuff they want to wear," Noel Barras, owner of Winky's clothing and gift shop, told the paper.

Turncoats, which sells slinky tank tops and T-shirts, recently was looted for about $2,000, according to owner Wes Davis.

"It was all the loudest, the brightest of our inventory," says Davis. "They use the fact that you don't want to stare at them, and that gives them time to rip you off."

Since New Orleans police are busy with more urgent matters, store owners have devised their own protection system. The owners phone each other when the suspected thieves are spotted and everyone locks their doors.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International

__________________
society has decided that men will be confined to
certain items of clothing, and certain modes of
presentation.

until we rebel PERSONALLY against this, we are diminished!

Dawn HH

Well---butter me up and call me a muffin! What will they think of next?
Cheers---

Dawn HH

__________________
High Heeled Boots Forever!

Nigel

Well, Mash my Spuds,

I have heard it all now!

__________________
Have you ever been in a situation where you knew you were supposed to act a certain way, but when you got there, you didn't know if you could go through with it?

r1g0r

well tie me up and call me restrained!

(off-camera snare drum riff)

these MUST be said using the voice of Foghorn Leghorn from loonie toons.

__________________
society has decided that men will be confined to
certain items of clothing, and certain modes of
presentation.

until we rebel PERSONALLY against this, we are diminished!

Fog

not forgetting,

Well cut off my balls and call me Frank.

dr1819

Well, in one ear and out the other!

I agree with their solution - effective at stopping the looters, but collectively they might be loosing more than $2,000 if they shut down for an hour.