Shoplifting: Beware of Consequences

Our posting today starts with a special word -- Kleptomaniac -- people who feel compelled to steal at any opportunity. According to an estimate, every year US retailers lose about 10 billions due to shoplifting. The ratailers, of course, make sure that the amount is extracted from average consumers like you and us through higher prices for their merchandise.

People steal things that they want to have but cannot afford like fancy cosmetics or apparels or the latest CD/DVD or things that they are forbidden to purchase like cigarettes. Some do this just out of fun. However, survey says that majority (about two-third) of shoplifters resort to this simply because they see the opportunity of doing that, even though they were not predetermined when they entered the shop.

Some retailers like Walmart take quite tough stand about this. Many retailers keep plain-cloth security people in aisles and exit. Walmart, for example, charges a high amount from the arrested person irrespective of the outcome of the court. The high cost of the procedures in court and complexity of expunging the act from the criminal record may take peace away from the arrested person's mind. So, never get into such a temptation and make your friends and family members, and young people, in particular, aware of this. One evening's temptation may haunt them and their career for a long time.