Is your child a future felon?

The National Association for Shoplifting Prevention (NASP) notes several very interesting statistics regarding shoplifting and those who commit these crimes. They estimate that there are approximately 25 million shoplifters in our country (about 1 in 11 Americans), and about 25 percent of shoplifters apprehended are juveniles. Studies show that when kids steal from stores, about 70 percent of them do not plan their thefts in advance, but about 30 percent do. The vast majority of teens who steal say that they do not do it out of need or greed, but as a response to personal or social pressures in their life. Often they do it because they feel pressured by friends, want to fit in with a certain crowd by having the latest fashions and electronics, or steal merchandise on a dare.

If your child has stolen from a store and you’re trying to understand what would provoke your son or daughter to do so, consider the following: Many kids report that just the thrill of “getting away with it” can produce a feeling of being “high” and that this sensation is the reward, not necessarily the item stolen. Other adolescents steal in order to pay for substances such as cocaine or marijuana, but many do it to fit in with their crowd. The social pressure to lift a CD, shirt or magazine can be tremendous if your child is hanging around with kids who view stealing as a game, a dare, or a quick way to secure a new shirt or video game. In addition to the thrill of it, some teens steal things that they can’t afford or are not allowed to have, such as mature-rated CDs and tapes, cosmetics, stylish clothes, cigarettes or consumer electronics.

Why drives anyone to shoplift?
What makes the teen or preteen so vulnerable to this temptation? Well, consider the poor impulse control of many adolescents — some haven’t faced real consequences for behaviors yet and feel that if they want it, then they should have it. Keeping up socially with peers who seem to have the most expensive, coolest clothes and electronics may appear to be an “instant fix” for the teen who just wants to fit in, or to stay in, a cutting-edge crowd. In addition, shoplifters can also be those who are bored or depressed. Experts at the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention suggest that teens steal because they:

• Think the stores can afford the losses.
• Think they won’t get caught.
• Don’t know how to handle temptation when faced with things they want, but can’t afford.
• Feel peer pressure to shoplift, and don’t know how to work through feelings of anger, frustration, depression, unattractiveness or lack of acceptance that often occur in the adolescent years.

It’s easy for shoplifting to become an addiction for some teens — the surge of adrenaline may temporarily relieve underlying anxiety or depression, so shoplifting can become a habit that’s difficult to break.

So why does the teen take the chance? Studies suggest that adolescents who steal tend to believe that they won’t get caught. Therefore, many are not concerned with how this illegal activity could affect their lives. Law enforcement takes shoplifting very seriously, and the possible outcomes can be:

• They may be arrested and walked through a store in handcuffs.
• They may be made to pay damages or even face charges for theft.
• They may be banned from stores or the entire mall.
• They may end up with a criminal record, especially if they’ve been caught more than once.

When teens shoplift they often do so in packs, or with at least one friend who serves as lookout to alert others if an employee is watching. The social pressure to steal is magnified in a group, and it may be difficult for a youngster who has no intention of stealing to stand strong in the face of the social demands of the group.

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