The Rip-Off

Many kids don’t see shoplifting as right or wrong. Few get caught. The victim is faceless. Kids say the rush of the rip off is often well worth the risk. Sixteen year old Amy says her friends often shoplifted when they were younger. “They always stole really stupid stuff,” says Amy. “They said they got a rush from doing it.”

Shoplifting is often a wealthy kids crime. They don’t lift what they need sometimes not even what they want. Instead, they steal for stealing’s sake. “A lot of shoplifters you’ll find come from middle class homes,” says Juvenile Court Judge Gregory Adams.

In an effort to put a face on the victim, businesses often lecture first offender groups, but more often than not kids are bored and unimpressed.

Experts advise parents to monitor what kids have and what they spend because in the end kids who shoplift are victims of their own crime. When a kid needs to shoplift to feel good there are probably deeper issues involved. “Parents who catch a kid shoplifting need to try to determine a child’s motivation to steal,” says Judge Adams. If they are stealing to fit in, parents may need to help raise self-esteem so kids learn that what they wear and who their friends are does not determine who they are inside.”

What Parents Should Know

Psychologists say shoplifting behavior among teenagers peaks during middle adolescence. Why do kids do it? One study suggests four reasons. Risk and experience were the most common reasons kids lifted items from stores. Peer pressure ranked as the second most influential factor. Forbidden fruit was the third reason kids risked the rip-off. Kids say they often steal things like cigarettes, sex books, and other taboo items. At the bottom of the list, some kids stole items they actually needed and could not afford.

Parents can prevent shoplifting and stealing by making it clear that stealing is always wrong and creating an environment where your child is encouraged to make good decisions when faced with whether to steal.

Some suggestions include leaving a dollar on a countertop to build strength in the face of temptation. Send a child to the store with a ten dollar bill to buy a small item and make sure they return with the correct change. Don’t hesitate to tell your child about good choices you’ve made like returning extra change when a cashier made a mistake. Finally, reward every responsible and honest decision a child makes.