What You Need To Know About

Shoplifting

Shoplifting for most people is not about greed, poverty or values.  It is about individuals struggling with their own conflicts and needs.

In all shoplifting cases, there is a reason (not an excuse) why someone who knows ‘right from wrong’ allows themselves to break the law and shoplift (impulsively or otherwise).

Shoplifting is always a symptom of a deeper issue and reflects a person’s ability (or inability) to cope with things going on in their life.  Even with fear of sanctions from the criminal justice system, a reported 1/3 of non-professional shoplifters caught for the first time have already developed a habit or addiction and will repeat the offense.  This is because the idea of “getting something for nothing” and the ‘High’ or ‘Rush’ felt from “getting away with it” has become their “coping mechanism”.

Shoplifting is not just something that happens by mistake.

Shoplifting is very similar to other coping mechanisms such as gambling, compulsive shopping, anorexia, bulimia, alcohol, drugs, trichotillomania (hair pulling), self-mutilation, isolation/withdrawal, etc.

What you need to know is that your impulse to steal was based on a real underlying issue which needs to be uncovered and resolved within you in order for you to move your entire life forward in a positive way.

It would be a dangerous mistake for you to deny the existence of a real underlying issue within you.

The good news is that because almost all people don’t want to remain shoplifters, it is reported that 97% of people who get real help never shoplift again.