Is your house under renovation? Do you have workers come through your house from time to time to fix plumbing, repair dry rot, work on electrical issues? Do you have a cleaning crew that varies? If so, keep in mind that you should always be careful about who is coming in your home and when. Most homeowners get referrals from friends and make sure that the contractor they are hiring is fully licensed. Don’t get lulled into a false sense of security! You should also be aware of who the contractor is sub-contracting to. During your initial meeting, write down the names of everyone who will be entering the home and what their business licenses are.

While your house is under repair, do your best to be in the home and always lock-up all valuables! The bottom line is that you may not know the subs-contractors that your contractor is calling in, or how trustworthy they are. Have important items under lock and key or removed from the premises while the home is being worked on. And, avoid giving out any keys or alarm codes.

This problem hit home with Emmy award winning actress, Julianne Moore, this past summer. She just filed a complaint with the NYPD stating that about $127,000 worth of jewelry was stolen from her brownstone between June 6 and August 28, 2012. This was a period of time when her home was under renovation and about 15 – 25 different construction workers were filing in and out. The thief made away with Cartier watches, bracelets and a necklace. All of these items could easily be pocketed without anyone noticing. Police are investigating the case as grand larceny, but there are no particular suspects at this time. One of these workers will need to take a 16 Hour Theft Addiction Class!

If you have been caught for stealing, or know someone who is on that path, now is the time to take Online Theft Classes. It can be too easy to take an item from a home when it’s sitting out in plain view, or in a drawer in the room you’re working in. You may be suffering from impulse control issues or just poor judgment both of which can be overcome with the correct counseling.

Distance learning classes can be taken on a computer in the privacy of your own home. This takes away the stress of having to drive to a classroom and keeps the behavior extremely low-profile. Students will learn about the psychology of stealing and what makes people do it. They will then learn empathy training and skills in emotional intelligence, communication and stress management. The consequences and risks of theft and shoplifting are also discussed with the hope of making the thief think twice about ever indulging in the behavior again.

Check with the court system first and get their approval prior to taking the class to fulfill a court mandate. Once you get approval, it’s easy to go to the website, click on the length class you would like to take and it is available to begin immediately. Nothing needs to be printed out. It’s just between you and the computer as you scroll through chapter by chapter. At the end of each topic, a quiz is given. There is a final exam at the end that needs to be passed with a 70% or better. Don’t worry if you don’t pass, the test can be retaken until you are successful.

It seems there is a growing trend that is very disturbing for travelers. When you travel, especially by plane, your luggage and carry on articles are searched by TSA agents that work for the airport or other travel service. They are supposed to be doing an important job of making sure anything that could be dangerous doesn't make it onto the plane. They will use x-ray machines to check what you are carrying in your luggage. Unfortunately, a number of TSA agents have been caught stealing what they see in your luggage. They don't even care about locks since they have learned how to pick them successfully. Is there something you can do to prevent theft of expensive possessions when traveling?  Not really.  It's the agents that need to be more carefully screened.

The Numbers of Arrests Is On the Increase

Over the last few years there have been several TSA agents fired and many arrested for stealing. From 2003 until now, over 380 people have been fired who were caught stealing from passengers. There have been at least 11 so far this year. Besides losing their jobs, TSA agents also face jail time because of their crimes. There is one man who worked as a TSA agent who says he stole approximately $800,000 worth of items that he then would resell using EBay. This was done over a 4 year period. He did do jail time because of his crimes.

Types of Items Stolen

Valuables, especially electronics are a favorite item. They will screen your luggage and locate the items of interest such as jewelry, cameras, computers, iPads and even game consoles. Once the item is located they will take advantage of working alone and turn off surveillance to then pick the locks on the luggage and take whatever they want. One man claims to have taken items and then walked right out of the airport with them without ever being questioned.

This makes you wonder about the entire TSA system and just how deep the corruption goes. A worker for the TSA has no reason to be carrying items out of the workplace without being questioned. When a gaming console is carried out there should be plenty of questions raised by other members of the TSA. Should the entire system be changed? What can be done to prevent thefts by people who are supposed to be trusted personnel? Hopefully, with all the current publicity, the TSA agents will now be watched under a brighter light. Another words, we have to police, the police.

In conjunction with jail time, fines, job loss and a criminal record, those caught stealing will most likely be mandated to take a Theft Class for education and retribution purposes. The goal is to instill a sense of empathy and understanding in these criminals, so they will think twice about ever stealing again. These theft classes can now be taken online from any web-based computer. This is a benefit to the consumer as they don’t have to drive anywhere to get to a classroom, at a certain time of the day. Classes can be purchased at a click of the button and are available immediately to take 24/7. If you have been involved in a theft and haven’t been caught yet, these online classes are highly recommended to help overcome the desire, before it’s too late.

The term burglary refers to the physical illegal entry into a building for the purposes of theft or some other offense. In the United States, statistics show that there are more than 5 million home burglaries per year. These burglaries are highly preventable by taking the following precautions:

1) Keep track of all keys –

Make a set number of keys for the home or business and hand them out to trusted employees only. Have all keys stamped with “do not duplicate” on them and keep any unused keys in a safe. Remember to keep a log of all keys issued.

2) All windows and doors should be secured –

Ensure that all sliding glass windows have locking pins, bolts or latches to prevent them from being opened from the outside of the property. In most burglaries, the criminals break into a house by kicking in the front door or forcing the lock. The frame of all doors should be as strong as the door. Glass doors should be installed with burglar-resistant glass.

3) Close up any additional entryways –

Put metal grates over any ventilation openings, crawl holes or skylights.

4) Maintain fire escapes -

Secure all fire ladders on the rooftop or away from the building so thieves cannot use them for upper level access.

5) Light things up! –

More light means less potential for criminal activity. Burglars prefer to work under the darkness of the night, so install floodlights and maintain bright lighting to illuminate any activity.

6) Make your home look occupied –

If you go away on vacation, leave lights on inside and make sure the lawn will continue to be mowed. Have a neighbor pick up all the daily newspapers and flyers at your front door.

7) Be Conscious of Facebook –

Do not post information on Facebook that can lead a burglar to your home. For example, don’t say “We’re in Italy until August 5, so excited!”.

8) Never leave keys in obvious places –

Don’t leave your keys under the front mat, or in a flower pot by the front door. This makes it too easy to walk right in.

Following these effective tips will greatly reduce your chances of being burglarized. Of course, on top of all this, if you can afford an alarm system, use it.

If you have been criminally indicted for breaking and entering, theft or stealing, you will most likely need to fulfill a court order to take a theft education class. Ask your judge if you can take the class online. Online theft classes can be taken from any web-based computer in your home. They provide the convenience to take them at any time of the day or night. There is nothing to download or print-out. Basic computer skills is all you need to be on your way. Be sure to enroll in a class that is developed by a licensed therapist. These programs are interesting and contain all the same information that you would get in a classroom setting, but without having to miss time at work or school.

With any addiction, impulse control is the core of the problem and often impossibly difficult for the individual to control. Whether the issue is gambling, overeating, alcoholism or shoplifting, the action becomes irresistible until the desire is fulfilled. The addict usually has feelings of initial satisfaction and relief, followed by guilt. Learning to resist impulsive behavior is at the root of self-control and for some people, it is a behavior that does not come innately but must be learned.

The following are some of the most successful techniques to utilize to help control your impulses:

1) Assess your impulses – what are your triggers? Do you have a lack of financial self-control? Do you overeat after a certain time at night? Do you drink too much when out with certain friends? Figure out what your addictions are and where they stem from.

2) Learn mindfulness – become more aware of your actions so that you can review and consider the risks and consequences of the behavior. Take time to think about what you are doing and how it will affect you in the long run. Eating ice cream every night will cause high cholesterol. Stealing an item might cause you a brush with the law.

3) Avoid impulse triggers – once the addictive behavior is identified, put a plan into place to try to better manage the situation. For example, if overeating sugary foods is a late night problem, start by replacing the ice cream with dates or another dried fruit until you feel strong enough to completely end the behavior. If it’s the thrill of shoplifting, try to avoid going to the mall or shop with someone who will help you maintain appropriate behavior.

4) Walk away from the situation – take time to delay your impulsive action. Sometimes time will enable you to naturally get over the desire. If you are angry with someone, give yourself a time-out to get a breather before responding. If you desire to steal an item because it will be exciting to get away with it, breathe deeply and count to 20 or go away from the situation for a while. You might have a completely different outlook after a short break.

4) Get therapy – education and behavioral therapy help individuals with impulse control disorders. If theft is the issue, try taking an online theft program in conjunction with one-on-one psychotherapy. Online classes are an easy way to begin the process of stopping the behavior. They teach how to understand the disorder and the psychology behind it. Students receive empathy training and cognitive behavioral interventions to stop the cycle. Other strategies like improving communication skills and stress management are also discussed.

When dealing with any type of addiction, it’s important to rationally realize that the temporary gratification is just not worth it. Shoplifting laws across the country vary, but generally you’ll have to miss work to deal with the court system, there will be a fines and attorneys to pay, and you’ll have to spend time performing community service work and taking theft classes. To stop the cycle before getting criminally indicted, take online theft classes now to learn new, healthier behaviors.

Fraud can be simply defined as a deception with the intention of obtaining something or causing loss to another party. Research has shown that the main motivation for fraud is personal greed. The typical fraudster is 36-45 years old, is male and works together with others to commit the fraud. This type of theft occurs everyday in our society and can sometimes take years to uncover.

Just yesterday, federal agents in New Jersey apprehended 14 individuals involved in one of the largest ever fraudulent schemes against the US government. The defendants allegedly attempted to steal $65 million by using stolen identities from Puerto Rico to obtain unlawful tax refunds. They’re now being charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and theft of government property. Officials estimate that the scheme has created $11 million in losses.

This comes on the heals of another case in which seven men from Zimbabwe were caught using hundreds of American’s identities to file false tax returns. The story goes that the men ran a phony tax preparation business for 4 years and used their client’s identities to file for tax refunds. And, today 3 people were sentenced to fraud in Alabama for again setting up a false tax business and benefiting from illegal tax refunds. Their prison terms will be 6 months to 5 ½ years for the kingpin.

Due to their uncontrollable and illegal greed, these perpetrators will most likely spend many years behind bars. If you feel that this is a behavior that entices you, but are looking to overcome it, try taking theft classes online. Courses discuss the impact of this behavior on society, how to understand this disorder, empathy for victims and how to control and stop this behavior. They also review the risks and repercussions of being caught for different kinds of theft. They are an excellent educational tool to use to help prevent the individual from continuing with this lifestyle.

Online theft classes can often be used to fulfill court mandates. If you have already been sentenced and need to take an educational course for retribution purposes, ask the court if they will accept an online class. Many jurisdictions will approve them because of all the benefits they provide the client. Classes can be taken in your own home, at any web-based computer from any of the 50 US states. Programs are easy to follow with a click of the button and do not require much computer knowledge. Look for a good, high-quality course which is designed by a licensed, practicing therapist. Classes can be taken in different lengths from 4 to 16 hours, depending on the court requirement. They are divided up in chapters by topic. A quiz is given at the end of each topic to insure that the client is understanding the material. Upon successfully passing the final exam, a certificate of completion is immediately sent out via US Mail. This certificate proves to the court that the class has been successfully finished. It’s an easier, more relaxed way to fulfill this mandate than having to go to a classroom setting, at a specific time that might interfere with work or school.