Reasons on why people steal

Why Do Shoplifters Steal, and Continue to Steal even after been Caught? Is it need, or is it just a desire, or is it something wholly different that tempts so many people to shoplift from retail stores? Exempt from the drug stoners and firmed professionals who steal for resale and profit as a business, most shoplifters are fair people who are oppositely law-abiding citizens. The immense majority of adult offend have zero clues about how or why they become a thief, or why they proceed to shoplift, even after getting arrested.

Retailers, prosecutors, and judges see thousands of apprehending shoplifters who don't match the profile of a common criminal. For instance, they don't use shoplifting material, they don't use pills, they carry formal identification, they have no previous criminal record except maybe for shoplifting. They don't relate with the known wrongdoer, they don't shoplift for resale, they normally have the money to pay for the item or items they stole, they oftentimes have a job and a family, they steal things they don't need and continually don't use, they realize what they did was wrong and frequently feel embarrassed and guilty. Their altogether lifestyle is not that of a thief or criminal.

Law enforcement and prosecutors deal with these people through the criminal justice system, as they should, but with little awareness of why they committed the crime and what kind of therapy is appropriate to help reduce it. Proposed below is a short explanation of why these people steal and what needs to be done to help reduce the problem.

In elementary and concise terms. TO GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING..... But, you must ask yourself, why do they want something for nothing?

While we all wish to get things for free and the stores are always promoting and placing merchandise on "SALE" to generate excitement about getting a bargain, you and I never cross over the line and steal the item, whereas other people do. Why?

The answer is for most shoplifters, is getting something for nothing is like throwing themselves a "gift"

which in switch gives them a "life". Many people feel they need "life" just to get through the week

or day. A recent study by MasterCard International found that shopping was second only to dining out as the primary way that people reward themselves. Take it further and you can see how shoplifting the merchandise could boost the reward.

It is vital to understand that "getting something for nothing" always symbolizes something more to the shoplifter than the significance of the merchandise. For different people, it can characterize any of the following things:

For some, it's an "alternative for loss" because they were unfairly deprived in some manner may be a divorce the situation, a serious illness, death of a loved one, loss of income from an investment, or an increase in expense for a car repair, or another item which

frequently causes people to feel needy. Stealing a bottle of Tylenol, for example, can temporarily help to

reduce the anxiety about their financial situation and gives them a feeling that they are more in authority.

But to others, it's justified payback" for all they give to others and how small they get back in return. For some, it's a "remedy mechanism" for anxiety, frustration, boredom, or maybe depression.

Studies have found diagnosed depression in roughly 1/3 of the shoplifters studied. Depression was the most often found psychological problem. This helps to clarify why so many shoplifters steal on their birthday and around holiday times.

Any way you look at it, shoplifters perceive shoplifting as an aspect of self-nourishment or as a way to

lessen fear or pain in their life. In truth, shoplifting is self-destructive, not self-nourishing, but shoplifters often can't see the contradiction.

For most non-professional shoplifters, stealing is practically a reflection of a person's ability or inability to withstand a bunch of situations in his or her life. It's their responsibility to their life situations. While these unhappy life situations may not easily be changed or may duplicate themselves from time to time, shoplifters must learn how to withstand these situations in a way that will not be so toxic to themselves or others. This may not be easy to achieve because nearly 57% of shoplifters caught for the first time have already formulated a shoplifting habit or even an addiction. Many admit that it will be difficult for them to stop shoplifting...even after getting caught.

A person's habit of shoplifting can develop rapidly when the enthusiasm generated from "getting away with it" produces a chemical reaction (.e. adrenalin, etc.) resulting in what shoplifters interpret as an incredible "rush" or "high" feeling, which many shoplifters will tell you is the true reward", rather than the merchandise itself. In addition to feeling good, shoplifters quickly observe that this "high" temporarily eliminates their feelings of anger, frustration, depression or other unhappiness in their life. Realizing how easy it is to get that "high" feeling, they are pulled toward doing it again.. just one more time"...and their addiction begins to develop. Even though most non-professional shoplifters feel guilty, ashamed, or remorseful about what they did, and are fearful of getting caught, the pull is too strong for many to resist.

Of course, some people don't see shoplifting as a functional or psychological problem. They say, "What do you mean that a person can't stop shoplifting? Of course they can, they're just greedy". The idea that shoplifting is addiction is ridiculous, they declare. People who shoplift should go to jail and not be coddled or told they have an addiction. This is like explaining to them it's ok to steal because they really can't help it.

The mystery is that most shoplifters who have developed a habit or addiction believe they should be punished according to the law when arrested. What rooted offenders always resent, however, is when they are thrown into prison with many strengthened career criminals and are not given any assistance or support to prevent them from repeating the offense

Shoplifting among teenagers is extremely similar to adult shoplifting in many ways. However, the main issues which are associated with shoplifting among youth revolve around family difficulty, school pressure, and peer pressure.

If one was to ask youth caught shoplifting, "Why did you do it? The most frequent reply would be "I don't know". Like adults, the reasons teens shoplifted will differ, but most generally it is because they wanted delightful things, or felt pressured by friends, or were mad, depressed, or bored. Sometimes they are just mad at the world and want to strike back.

While teens, same as adults, usually know the distinction between right and wrong, when their life becomes too difficult they become weaker to temptation, peer pressure, and other things that can steer them to shoplift. This is mainly true when they feel worthless, mad, discouraged or not accepted.

In overview, shoplifting for millions of our citizens is a completely maladaptive way of struggling with stressful life situations, ways related to overeating, drinking, drugs, or coming to be withdrawn. It is not a question of good vs. bad people, rich vs. poor people, young vs. old, or education vs. illiteracy. At any time, or even many times in a person life, the allure to get something for nothing" and reward oneself can effortlessly be present. Although some believe they could "never" do such a thing, if they do cross over the streak, swift and constructive action must be taken by both the retailer and the criminal justice system to help these people get back on track. While it is not reasonable for retailers or the criminal justice system to be thoughtful or forgiving after a shoplifting incident, what is appropriate is for prosthe ecutors, law enforcement, and judges support correctional sanctions along with community established educational rehabilitation programs.