Archive for January, 2009
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Why do people steal? Most people think it has to do with just plain economic need or greed. For most people, something more is going on. And it’s epidemic. Various articles have recently cited that over 10% of Americans shoplift and that number is growing. Similarly, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that 75% of Americans steal in some form from their workplaces and most do so repeatedly. Be honest, have you ever stolen? If so, why did you do it? Have you ever had a probationer who didn’t fit the mold of the “classic thief”? Did you know how to help that person or where to refer him or her? First, it is important to assess-in what little time one has-what category a person who steals fits in. Here’s a helpful list:
#1. The Common Thief / The Professional — those who are either plain opportunists or who work individually or in “rings” to shoplift goods and then sell or “boost” them for profit. It’s a job to them, whether part-time or full-time. Most “pro’s” are unlikely to benefit from therapy or C.A.S.A. (Cleptomaniacs And Shoplifters Anonymous) support groups.
#2. The Drug/Gambling/Shopping Addicts — those who are shoplifting to support an underlying addiction by stealing to save money to use or pay off debts associated with using or who “boost” stolen goods to do the same. These persons need treatment for the underlying addiction(s) first but may have picked up a theft addiction along the way.
#3 The Impoverished — those who perceive that they need to shoplift/steal to
survive. During tough times, it is tempting to put morality on a shelf–people get desperate. Explore resources & issues of pride or fear in asking for help.
#4 The Thrill Seekers — mostly younger persons who steal as a dare or due to peer pressure, these people are mostly drawn to various risk-taking behaviors and must be worked with to explore why this has developed and how there are healthier and more affirming ways to “live on the edge.”
#5 The Absent-minded — mostly older persons and/or those on medications, these people may have cognitive disorders and/or need to slow their pace.
#6 The Kleptomaniacs — those who steal impulsively, with no planning, and who steal not out of anger, and whose stealing is used to calm self when anxiety creeps up. Things shoplifted are usually discarded, hoarded, or are not even needed. Treatment is usually with medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
#7 The Addictive-Compulsive — those who may get a rush from stealing but the stealing mainly is the “cry for help,” the acting out of emotions, the ritual effort to distract oneself from pain and to make life right. The stealing itself is the drug. Medication and therapy are often essential but so, too, is applying ongoing.
Research indicates at least 50% of people who steal fall into this last category. Some reasons-not excuses–why these people steal include the following:
1. Anger — to try to take back, to make life fair
2. Grief — to fill the void due to a loss
3. Depression — to distract from sadness, to get a lift
4. Anxiety — to calm fears, to comfort
5. Acceptance / Competition – to fit in
6. Power and Control – to counteract feeling lost or powerless
7. Boredom / Excitement – to live life on the edge
8. Shame / Low self-esteem — to feel good at something, to reinforce shame
9. Entitlement / Reward — to compensate oneself for over-giving
10. Rebellion / Initiation – to break into one’s authentic identity
As a recovering “theft addict” myself since 1990, I found help through counseling and support groups and truly enjoy helping other people with theft behavior problems. Through counseling, support groups, books, and other specialized interventions, people can recover. Probation officers play a vital role in assessing and referring people who commit theft offenses. You truly make a difference.
“The Disease of ‘Something for Nothing’:
Shoplifting, Embezzlement & Other Theft Crimes…
What Every Probation Officer Needs to Know
by
Terrence Daryl Shulman, JD,LMSW,ACSW,CAAC,CPC
Founder/Director, The Shulman Center for Compulsive Theft & Spending
Terrence Daryl Shulman, JD,LMSW,ACSW,CAAC,CPC is a Detroit area therapist, attorney, author, and consultant. He is the Founder and Director of The Shulman Center for Compulsive Theft and Spending and is the founder of C.A.S.A. (Cleptomaniacs And Shoplifters Anonymous) groups in Michigan and online. He is the author of “Something for Nothing: Shoplifting Addiction and Recovery,” “Biting The Hand That Feeds: The Employee Theft Epidemic… New Perspectives, New Solutions” and “Bought Out and $pent! Recovery from Compulsive $hopping and $pending.” He organized and presented at The First International Conference on Theft Addictions and Disorders in 2005 and The Second International Conference on Compulsive Theft & Spending in 2008. He has appeared as a guest expert on Oprah, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, The Today Show, The Early Show, and Good Morning America-among others. He can be reached at terrenceshulman@theshulmancenter.com or 248-358-8508. His lead website is http://www.theshulmancenter.com. Mr. Shulman offers counseling and consulting in person and by phone.
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