The History of Shoplifting Classes

So you're stuck in a situation where you have to take a theft class? But maybe you're wondering, how did I get here? How is it that people steal things without getting caught, but I did get caught?

Believe it or not, theft and shoplifting have been around for thousands of years. If you read the history of theft, you'll learn that there have been cases of theft and shoplifting in biblical times and even earlier. Why do you think "thou shalt not steal" is written in the bible? Even people in the pre-dark ages had to deal with thieves all the time.

And the penalties for theft were much much harsher back then. Often thieves were put to death without any sort of trial. Or other barbaric punishments occurred, such as their hands being cut off. So if you are required to sit in a theft class or shoplifting class, think of how lucky you are that you live in such enlightened and civilized times!

Parents Can Keep Kids Out of a 4 Hour Theft Class

I hope all of you agree with me that parents should be good role models for their children. I mean how can they expect their kids to stay away from tobacco when they smoke a pack of Marlboros a day? How can they expect their kids not to drink when they see their parents boozing it up all the time? How can they keep their kids from shoplifting when they steal too?


As a counselor for both in-class and online stop theft classes I hear first-hand how many kids witnessed their parents steal or actually participated in a theft with their folks. What kind of parental behavior is that?

I recently counseled a student who had been arrested more than 10 times for shoplifting. She was only 19 years old. It seems impossible for that to be the case, but she stole to get her parents attention. She stole to make them proud. Her parents too were compulsive shoplifters. Not surprisingly both parents had spent significant amounts of time behind bars. My 19-year-old is headed in that direction.


After taking a 4 hour online theft class and counseling she has ceased her behaviors, even if her parents continue to steal. I have encouraged her to get her parents into one of my classes or into my office. At this point we can only hope that her parents are influenced by her positive behavior.