The Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays are coming right up. Many retailers are opening shops at midnight on Thanksgiving for people who are hardcore about looking for Black Friday deals. It will be late at night and shoppers will be tired and may not be thinking clearly. Don’t accidently drop an item into a bag of purchases you’ve already made, to hold it until you are ready to checkout. Be sure to stay alert and don’t lose your sense of better judgment. Security will be out in full force. Overhead video cameras are catching your every move in most retail outlets these days. And, don’t succumb to the idea of shoplifting!
The holiday season has become a more and more materialistic time of year and during these difficult economic times; we don’t want to let our family down. In fact, according to a recent survey, a growing number of new shoplifters are part of the middle class. They are walking off with items like cosmetics, clothing and mobile phones to help maintain a certain lifestyle that they can no longer afford. The most recent data showed that North America reported an increase of 8.1% in shoplifting thefts over the previous year. Most shoplifters rationalize the behavior with the idea that big companies won’t notice the difference because they are already overcharging so much. The problem with this chain of thought is that it’s because of this theft that retailers across the U.S. have to increase prices. They need to cover for the ever-increasing amount of loss that they are sustaining. In fact, according to the Center for Retail Research, loss due to theft cost each U.S. household about $436 this past year.
If you are still tempted to overlook your morals, keep in mind that shoplifting is no small offense. At the very least, you will be humiliated, spend time in front of a judge, have a misdemeanor offense on your record, possibly lose your current job, and have a harder time finding new employment with a criminal record. You will also be mandated to take some type of theft education classes to deter you from performing the illegal act again.
Theft classes can be taken online for those who need to fulfill court mandates or for those considering shoplifting and looking for support to overcome the behavior. Online Theft Education classes are designed for people of all ages and are simple and easy to follow. All you need is an Internet connection and the classes can be taken any time of the day or night from the convenience of your own home.
The route of stealing or shoplifting is usually found in poor judgment and/or impulse control issues. High quality theft programs found online are designed by licensed therapists to help improve the individuals thinking and behavior. Classes address why people steal, the impact it has on society, empathy training, effective communication skills, stress management and the consequences and risks of the behavior. They are perfect to fulfill a court mandate, or as prevention therapy. Take an online theft class before the holiday season to help you avoid getting into real trouble!
