Why People Shoplift
Abstract
Shoplifting, one of the most common crimes in our society, is increasing in recent years. Despite the fact that there are tight securities against it, people are not discouraged to shoplift but instead they do so quite often. This paper looks at the reason behind the increasing number of shoplifters, the factors that encourage people to shoplift. People that are highly into such a crime can either be a young teen ager or a grown up however, the reason may vary for both the groups. This paper will further talk about money not being the only factor that encourages shoplifting.
Introduction
‘‘Shoplifting is the theft from the selling floor while a store is open for business.’’ (Francis, 1979, p. 10). It has been estimated that 1 in every 12 shoppers shoplift (Ray, 1987). Almost 60% of consumers have shoplifted at some point in their lives (Klemke, 1982, 1992; Kraut, 1976).
Among adolescents, 30 to 40% …show more content…
This is a psychological disorder in which a person cannot resist the impulse to steal. This is a very rare disorder, and teen shoplifters rarely have it. With kleptomania, the items stolen are often of little value and discarded after stealing. There is usually no underlying reason for teenage shoplifting by someone with kleptomania. In such cases, professional help is often needed to help treat the kleptomania. Kleptomania is often accompanied by other personality or eating disorders. Many people assume that shoplifters have a mental disorder or that they must really need the items they are stealing in order to survive. But the truth is that's not why most people steal. Very few people have kleptomania (a compulsive urge to steal), and many people who steal have enough money to pay for the items. Someone might shoplift for many reasons. But there's no way around the fact that shoplifting is stealing and in most places there are heavy penalties for it, including being arrested and possibly charged with a
Shoplifting, one of the most common crimes in our society, is increasing in recent years. Despite the fact that there are tight securities against it, people are not discouraged to shoplift but instead they do so quite often. This paper looks at the reason behind the increasing number of shoplifters, the factors that encourage people to shoplift. People that are highly into such a crime can either be a young teen ager or a grown up however, the reason may vary for both the groups. This paper will further talk about money not being the only factor that encourages shoplifting.
Introduction
‘‘Shoplifting is the theft from the selling floor while a store is open for business.’’ (Francis, 1979, p. 10). It has been estimated that 1 in every 12 shoppers shoplift (Ray, 1987). Almost 60% of consumers have shoplifted at some point in their lives (Klemke, 1982, 1992; Kraut, 1976).
Among adolescents, 30 to 40% …show more content…
This is a psychological disorder in which a person cannot resist the impulse to steal. This is a very rare disorder, and teen shoplifters rarely have it. With kleptomania, the items stolen are often of little value and discarded after stealing. There is usually no underlying reason for teenage shoplifting by someone with kleptomania. In such cases, professional help is often needed to help treat the kleptomania. Kleptomania is often accompanied by other personality or eating disorders. Many people assume that shoplifters have a mental disorder or that they must really need the items they are stealing in order to survive. But the truth is that's not why most people steal. Very few people have kleptomania (a compulsive urge to steal), and many people who steal have enough money to pay for the items. Someone might shoplift for many reasons. But there's no way around the fact that shoplifting is stealing and in most places there are heavy penalties for it, including being arrested and possibly charged with a