Here’s one for the books. Last month at a Target store in California, a ring of shoplifters worked together to steal $1,075.95 worth of items. The entire event was caught on tape, but unfortunately the thieves actually got away with a cart full of items! The way the crime unfolded is that 2 men and 2 women entered the Target store together. They got a shopping cart and proceeded to calmly go around the store filling the cart up with dog food, men’s clothing, children’s games and toys and various other household items. After about 40 minutes of shopping, they went to a checkout and proceeded to unload all the items on to the conveyer belt. The employee scanned the items while one woman stood with her checkbook out to pay and the other 3 bagged the items at the end of the counter and reloaded the cart. The woman handed over the check, at which point it was denied. The employee and woman made phone calls to try and resolve the check situation. While doing so, the employee had her back turned to the other three people. They quietly pushed the cart out of the store and loaded their SUV. At this point, the woman stated “My friends left me. They left me. I can’t believe they left me” and she gave a false report to the loss prevention employee of the type of car they were driving. Then another car quickly pulled up, she jumped in and they took off. The entire scenario has been caught on video surveillance and the cops have good descriptions of the individuals involved.
This was obviously a premeditated plan and will not be looked lightly upon by any California judge. These thieves will surely end up with some jail time, fines, community service work and could definitely use an advanced 16-hour theft and shoplifting class! The only good news for these thieves is that they might have the opportunity to take the class online if the judge approves a distance learning class.
The goal of educating thieves instead of just giving them jail time and fines, is in the hope that they will learn how their behavior negatively impacts society and will refrain from repeating the behavior. Participants will learn how to understand their desire to steal, victim impact and awareness, empathy training skills and the further consequences and risks of continuing this behavior. Offenders will finish the course with new tools and skills to apply in everyday life. This includes stress management skills, improved communication, and behavioral interventions to redirect the impulse.
Online theft courses are a great benefit to clients because they can be taken from any Internet based computer device from the home, office, library or even local coffee shop. Online classes help offenders to save time and money because they can be taken at their own pace and at any time of the day or night. This convenience makes it possible to not have to miss any work, or pay for gas to get to a traditional classroom across town.
The idea is to reflect, learn and apply these new behavioral skills to everyday life. No one wants to spend more time in jail, or to spend his or her days stressed out about getting caught for the illegal behavior. Ask your judge today if you can fulfill your court ordered requirement for a theft class on your computer.
