Consequences of Stealing

If you think there are true advantages of stealing, consider the consequences. There are a number of negative results from stealing, especially if you get caught. There are social or cultural rules, religious rules and personal morality beliefs against stealing.
Social and cultural consequences

The greatest deterrent to stealing is that it is against the law. If you are caught, you can be punished by being jailed or imprisoned—often for a long time. In some Arab countries, they cut off one hand of a thief as punishment.

Another negative factor in stealing is that people don’t like it when someone steals from them. They become angry and may seek revenge on the person who did the stealing, provided they know who and can catch the thief. There have been cases of a mob of angry people catching a purse-snatcher and beating him senseless.

Once a person has been branded as a thief, other people will no longer trust him or her. Even other thieves do not trust someone who steals.

While the law often punishes the criminal, the casual thief—the person who may take something that doesn't belong to him—can be ostracized by his society, if associates find out about his stealing.
Religious consequences

Most religions have rules against stealing. Some simply say the stealing is wrong and against seeking goodness, while others say that stealing is a sin and will result in punishment from God.

Related to religious beliefs is the concept that "what comes around, goes around." In other words, if you steal, someone will steal from you or some other misfortune will happen to you.

But note that there are criminals who are devoutly religious. They sidestep the law and ignore the possibility of punishment from God. Perhaps they justify stealing through their personal moral beliefs.
Personal moral beliefs

Many people have personal moral beliefs that stealing is wrong. They want to do what it right and may even have a guilty conscience if they even did steal something.

Although they may not admit it, some people that steal have been taught that it is not right. The need to get what they want overshadows their inherent moral beliefs.

An unstated consequence of stealing is that thieves often do not feel good about themselves afterwards, even if they needed the money and did not get caught. In general, someone who steals is not a person with much self-esteem. The money or object stolen has a "dirty" feel to it and after awhile the thief just does not feel right.
In conclusion

If you are in a situation where you really need money or really want some expensive item, you should never let stealing be a choice. It shouldn't even be in your mind as a possibility. The consequences of stealing can be devastating to your life, especially if you get caught. Also, you should always appreciate what you have, no matter how little it is. Sure, it is nice to have expensive items, but they only present a false front of who you really are. And if you stole those expensive items, other people will think even less of you than if you didn't have them at all.