We Both Learned a Lot About Theft

I was so angry when my daughter was charged with shoplifting. I panicked at first because I thought her life was ruined over such a stupid action. I knew she spent a lot of time at the mall but I had no idea she would ever do anything like this. She was always such a good girl. We attend church.

I am a single mother doing my best and I'd heard children of divorce can act out. After she was caught stealing, the store pressed charges and the judge ordered her to take an online shoplifting class. After she completed it, he would decide what else she needed to do.

I was happy he held her accountable and he really scared her. This situation made her look at her choices and her new friends. I wanted to take the class myself so I could know what to look for and stay on top of things.

We both learned a lot and the judge must have thought so too because he only sentenced her to community service but nothing more serious. She is very embarrassed by her behavior but on some level, I think she is glad she got caught early on.

Merchants Can Benefit from a Shoplifting Class

If you are a merchant who is looking for a way to stop crime in your retail setting, consider taking a shoplifting class. A shoplifting or stop theft class, can arm you with the necessary skills to stop people from stealing your merchandise.

Billions of dollars are lost every year because people steal. However, loss prevention training courses and companies can be expensive and time consuming. They are often too much for an individual retailer. If you own your own shop or business there are things you can do yourself to protect yourself.

Taking an online shoplifting class, can help you understand how thieves think. This information helps you set up your business or store prophylactically so are prepared and mindful. Preventing theft is much better than being a victim.

Court Ordered Theft Classes Online

If you have been ordered by a judge to participate in an online theft class as part of your sentence for shoplifting or personal theft, there are classes that can be taken online from the comfort of your home computer or mobile device. These classes will allow you to meet the court requirement and teach you  valuable information regarding theft and the law.

Courses vary in length but students go at their own pace. Upon passing the course, a certificate of completion is sent out to you. By taking this online theft course, you have a chance to learn the full spectrum of how theft and shoplifting can affect a company, and how personal theft can affect the individual and community that you have stolen from.

 Everyone makes mistakes from time to time, and theft and robbery can lead you down a negative path in life. Once you have completed the course, you can move forward in your life in a more positive direction.

Replace the Thrill of Shoplifting with Something Better

As a former thief and now a counselor for a theft class I am well-aware of the reasons people shoplift. Research from my students shows that less than one out of ten steal because they need the item shoplifted.

More than four in five of my students (82%) enjoy the rush they get from shoplifting. They like the thrill of getting away with it and feeling like they beat the system. It makes them feel "special". Many students will speak openly about daydreaming of shoplifting scenarios.

Like many thrills, the excitement from shoplifting can be habit forming. However, if you are stealing, you need to find another way to get your kicks.

One place to start is a hobby. Having a hobby to focus on will keep you from thinking about shoplifting. A number of my students have taken up ceramics. While not necessarily thrilling, the pride of accomplishment, of creating something from nothing, has really helped them kick their urge to steal. They feel good about themselves and have greater internal satisfaction. Gardening would be another good hobby.

If you absolutely must have lots of excitement and stimulation, take up a sporting hobby. Rock climbing, hiking, spelunking, rafting, skiing and snowboarding are all high-thrill sports that will help keep the need to steal at bay.

What Merchants Do with People Who Shoplift

Do you know what merchants do to people they catch shoplifting? If you ever have been caught you might have an idea. Actually, the reaction of a merchant to a shoplifter can vary greatly.

Merchants can go so far as to call the police and make sure charges are pressed, or they can be as lenient as letting you off with a warning. If you are a minor they may just call your parents and have them come and pick you up. Even if you aren't arrested, they may require you to take a shoplifting class. Also, merchants will often completely ban you from coming to the store again.

One of the most important factors in determining how you will be treated after being caught is your attitude. If you apologize and show genuine remorse, the likelihood of the merchant going easy on you greatly improves. I can assure you that a bad attitude will result in you being arrested and prosecuted to the full-extent of the law. Certainly if this happens you could go to jail, pay a very large fine and be required to take an online theft class.

Another factor in determining your outcome is the attitude of the merchant. If they have had a ongoing  problem with shoplifting, you will likely be prosecuted. Some merchants understand a youthful desire to defy the rules by stealing and if you are sincerely sorry, there is a chance they may go easy on you.

A third factor is store policy. Many stores now have policies in place that store security has to detain you and call the police. Your best bet here is sincerely apologetic and remorseful.

It is still better not steal. Being an honorable person, counts!

I Saw Grandma Stealing Cat Food

The other day in the grocery store I was in the pet food aisle and was shocked when only 10 feet away I saw an older woman secretly putting cans of cat food in her purse.

It was difficult to know what to do. On one hand stealing and shoplifting is a crime. Somebody who shoplifts deserves to be arrested. Most likely this woman wouldn't go to jail but instead would have to take a shoplifting class.

But on the other hand, maybe she can't afford the food and doesn't have the money to keep her cats alive. And what does it matter that a couple dollars worth of cat food is taken from a big rich grocery store.

But that's really bad thinking. If somebody steals from a store everybody is affected. The store loses money and has to raise prices for everybody else. So the best thing to do is report this person to store management. And if this grandmother has a problem, then the theft and shoplifting class will most likely be a huge help.

Who Gets Hurt by Shoplifting?

A good shoplifting class will tell you that everyone pays for shoplifting. It's not a victimless crime.

The first party injured by shoplifting is the merchant. Stores are not just a public good, but are there to make a profit. Stolen goods mean less profit. When a store makes less profit it has no alternative but to increase it's prices and security (which costs more money).

This leads to the second group affected by shoplifting, consumers. If stores have to raise prices, consumers have to spend more for their products. This is often a direct result of shoplifting and increased security measures.

The third group affected by shoplifting is our entire society. While one store having to raise prices for its products as a result of shoplifting only affects its customers, the thief being prosecuted uses valuable tax dollars to be arrested, prosecuted and punished. These extra dollars needed to process the shoplifter through the legal system will create greater need for increased sales and property taxes. If the city raises property taxes, all retailers have to increase prices to cover the added tax cost.

Getting back to the original question, it seems obvious that everyone pays for shoplifting.

Why Theft Classes Are Mandated by Courts

Have you ever been arrested for stealing or shoplifting? If so, the judge probably ordered you to take a theft class and do community service as well.

As a counselor for both in class and online theft classes I may have had you in one of my classes. If courts throughout the country are mandating you take a stop theft class, the big question remains - why. What are your thoughts?

What the courts are trying to do is make sure you realize what you have done is morally wrong as well as illegal, as well as keep you from stealing again.

The first time I was sentenced to a class for breaking the law was traffic school. Have you ever been to traffic school? Initially I thought it was a big waste of time. It was so boring having to sit in a small, cramped hotel room and listen to the material. I had tried to tune it out, but eventually it sunk in.

I would be willing to bet that after attending traffic school you were more aware of the laws and a better driver, right? I thought so.

The same is true for a theft class online. They not only make the offender think about their offense, but also teach valuable techniques so that students can self-monitor their behavior and address problematic thinking before further problematic behavior occurs.

My Son Needs a Shoplifting Class

I remember the first time I got caught shoplifting. No, it was not by the police - it was by the person who knew me best - my mother.

I had stolen lots of things before that. It started with packs of chewing gum and candy bars, escalated to toys and baseball cards. When caught, my friend and I were opening the free game tickets issued by McDonald's and Kroger grocery. In an effort to win free fries or a hamburger, we had stolen an entire bag.

Chance to Change Course of History

My mother did not take this sitting down. She made my friend and I return the unopened tickets and admit to the store manager what we had done. My friend's parents were informed too.

What did not happen was a shoplifting class. Perhaps that would have changed the course of the next decade of my life. Getting caught and reprimanded stopped my theft behavior for a week (while I was grounded). However, I thought about stealing all the time and went right back to my shoplifting. It would cost me later.

Do not miss the opportunity to take a stop theft class early; it could mean the difference between a long, happy life and a life of crime.

Early Theft Class Could Keep You Out of Jail

There are few people who would argue that education is bad thing. As a society we understand the value of knowledge. Knowledge is power!

It is one of the givens that stealing is wrong. That should be deeply ingrained in all of us at an early age. For most of us, our parents role model good behavior by not stealing. Some, however, do not have strong parental role models and this can lead to a life of crime and a life behind bars.

If was fortunate enough recently to visit Alcatraz. Among the many criminals who spent time there like Al Capone (tax evasion) there were many bank robbers. Jail is a horrible place, and unfortunately a good percentage of those arrested for shoplifting and other theft, steal again.

Alcatraz

I propose a mandatory stop theft class for all children beginning at the age of 10. It should be part of the normal middle school and secondary curriculum. This could be done online at a place like stopltheftclass.com and done in the computer lab at school. One hour per week for eight weeks with a final exam at the end.

What do you think? I have found both in-class and online theft classes to be a good weapon in the battle against shoplifting and other forms of theft.