Many people can't see shoplifting as an issue requiring
education. But educating both adult and juvenile shoplifters
about the problem and about themselves has proven to be
one of the most effective means of encouraging offenders
to stop shoplifting.
The effectiveness of "offense-specific" education
programs for shoplifters have been documented in recidivism
studies conducted within local courts and law enforcement
agencies. The recidivism rate commonly ranges between 1.5
percent and 3.0 percent for the more comprehensive programs,
compared to a recidivism rate of up to 25 percent in communities
without effective programs.
While people shoplift for many reasons, one common denominator
is that shoplifters lack an understanding of the problem
as it relates to society and to themselves. For example:
- They don't know why they do it.
- They don't think anyone really gets hurt.
- They think the stores can afford the losses.
- They don't know how to handle temptation when they
want nice things, or feel pressured by friends, or are
mad at the world and want to strike back.
- They don't understand the consequences to themselves
and their future.
- They don't know how to resolve feelings of anger, frustration,
depression, or feeling unattractive or not accepted.
- They think they won't get caught.
- They don't understand that when their life gets too
stressful they become more vulnerable to temptation, peer
pressure and other things that can lead them to shoplift.
Shoplifters think that they are stealing to "get something,"
but what they are really doing is losing something. Because
no one can force a person to stop shoplifting, offenders
need to receive comprehensive and accurate information about
all aspects of shoplifting, so they can make the best decision
for themselves and their future. Education provides the
framework for behavior change to occur.
What Education Teaches Shoplifters
Once shoplifters are given all the facts, and begin to
learn about the reasons they shoplifted and what might lead
to another incident in the future, the education process
starts to take hold.
Education, for example, helps offenders to understand how
shoplifting affects the lives of real people (not just stores).
It teaches them about the law and its consequences, the
new security technology now used in stores to detect shoplifters,
how much they risk for a small reward and how shoplifting
can become addictive. Education helps people to see how
their own personal and social pressures can trigger a shoplifting
incident and it teaches them what they must do to put shoplifting
behind them...forever.
Education also helps shoplifters see the added hardships
in their life caused by shoplifting. In the words of shoplifters
themselves, these hardships include:
- "Humiliation, embarrassment"
- "The guilt and shame of having to face the
court"
- "Being treated as a criminal"
- "Fear of going to jail"
- "Paying legal fees"
- "Having a criminal record"
- "Harder to get a job"
- "Fear that others will find out"
- "Loss of trust by parents, family or friends"
- "Facing my spouse"
- "Facing my children"
- "Loss of self-respect"
- "Loss of time from work"
- "Depression"
- "Sleepless nights"
- "Guilt about hurting others"
- "Worry about what the judge will do if I
get caught again."
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The National Association For Shoplifting Prevention seeks
to help people stop shoplifting through educational
rehabilitation programs and ongoing support services.
Quotes From Shoplifters after Taking a NASP
Educational Program
- "Knowing full well that what I did was wrong,
I needed this type of a program to really show me how
bad its getting to be and what it can do to my life if
I don't quit. Truly I have too much to lose."
S.A., Pennsylvania
- "I was very close to being addicted to shoplifting.
I'm glad now that I took this program. It made me wake
up and realize what really goes on."
C.B.K., Ohio
- "I wish I could have taken this program years
ago. It really did open my eyes. When and if I ever get
that urge, I will sit down and listen to the CDs. I finally
woke up to the reality that I was self-destructing!"
J.L.C., New Jersey
- "I think it truly reduces the urge a person has
to shoplift, if not eliminating it altogether."
A.H., North Carolina
- "It definitely allowed me to see things no courtroom
or police officer has been able to put across."
S.J.L., New York
- "The program has a lot of facts that were a great
help to me and I know I will play the CDs over when I
need to. I truly plan to stop shoplifting because I have
taken this program."
W.F.B., Florida
