Shoplifting...an odd phenomena
 

Of late, say over the past 3-4 years, I have noticed shoplifting on the rise among late teens/early 20-somethings. Almost universally the kids are from "good" families, no prior criminal behavior, kids usually are working at least partime, college students with good grade,. etc. Predominately attractive females. Clothes and make-up for the most part.

Any ideas on what is fuelling this?

Vanity. Peer pressure. Trying to be cool by being "the bad girl".

Poor parenting.

Mentality of being entitled to things which you have not earned.


Take your pick.

They want to get caught so Mommy and Daddy will pay attention to them.

Children today are being raised, as a healthy percentage of the whole, by parents without borders.

winona ryder..confused me. wtf?

for the rest..i think it is simple. they want stuff, they dont want to pay.

This.

It's the music they listen to I tells ya:

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Hormones in their milk.

Oh, sorry, that was the cause of increased breast size.

What was the question again?

I had one girlfriend (Yes, the psycho one with the scary eyes) that said she shoplifted in highschool. She came from a single parent family. Father was a serial marriagist! I think she has something like six half-brothers and sisters, all with different mothers!

My thoughts:

1) To get attention of friends, possibly adults
2) To "Prove" you are smarter than those stupid people
3) Entitlement: I deserve this, but ____ won't buy it for me
4) General lack of values

Everyone wants to tie crime with a low income. But it actually ties better with a lack of values. Poor people with high values do not steal. Rich people with no values, steal.

Oh, and they see all sorts of people on TV with lifestyles they can never afford, but they think they deserve!

It is really weird!

In the local supermarket the most shoplifted item are packs of rubbish bags - road side collection trash.

Why... Why... Risk getting a criminal conviction for something like a $10 item.

Sure, I'd steal a Ferrari maybe. But it would be just my luck it would break down on the way home and I would get caught :( but not rubbish bags or a can of baked beans.

They also do it for the thrill. They are bored.

Why work? It's the "gimmee mentality"!!!! Occupy the mall!

Was just retained on two girls who stole $650 worth of clothes/accessories. About 10 items. Since it was a joint act they charged them both with felonies (over $500). Bond set at $20,000 for each of the. $2050 each for bailbondsmen. Since they threw the items from car they were running from store personnel there will be restitution. Then they gotta pay me to try to get it rediuced to a misdemeanor. Then there are the fines (usually 3X value taken), court costs of about $300 each. Then a year or so from now hire me to have their records expunged. They'll likely get 1 year probabtion and have to pay $75/month to probation office.


Expensive attention ho's.

I stole two pieces of bubble gum when I was four. Think 2 cents worth of 1961 booty. My mistake was chewing on the way home in the car.

Oops. My Mom asked me where I bought the gum. I had zippy.

My Mom took me back to the store, turned me in to the manager.

How you learn, how one becomes accountable: "Two cents, Ma!!!"

Stealing is stealing, Son.

I wonder if it is just being caught more often now a days with all the increased security, and the ever so present "eye in the sky"

They have no fear of the consequences.

Who is paying bail, court fees and fines? Mom and Dad?

Probation? Everyone is on probation these days. Its almost a status symbol

News article last week- An arrest made for somebody shoplifting at the....... Dollar store!

Sometimes being stupid must hurt.

I don't thyink that's it. I honestly think a lot more are doing it and getting away with it.

I think it`s about the saying-`my conscience is clear` -lets hope not for everyone. This is the root of all lies..

BINGO! This is the first thought I had - they want/need attention....:(