Theft prevention and shoplifting classes are for more than those who want to prevent theft from their stores. The classes can also be for those who have a stealing problem. People steal for all different types of reasons. For individuals who have kleptomania, stealing just isn't fun, but a way of life. One of the best ways to show thieves the error of their ways is by required shoplifting education classes. Here are a few examples of the ways that these classes help thieves stay out of trouble.
Peer Pressure
For nearly every thief, the first time they steal is due to peer pressure. Even repeated offenses can be caused form peer pressure. This peer pressure is usually applied by older kids or peers, causing them to change their behavior. Theft and shoplifting prevention classes will help thieves understand that peer pressure and realize useful ways to fight it off.
The Consequences
By helping thieves understand the short-term and long-term consequences, the individual offender will be able to make the educated decision on why not to steal. Short-term consequences can mean fines, restitution, community service, and even probation. Long-term consequences can include, charges of grand-theft, thousands of dollars in fines, and prison time.
The Repercussions
Knowing the repercussions of theft for the individual, the family, the store, and the local community can help thieves understand why stealing is truly wrong. It will show the enrolled student how it hurts the overall outcome, rather than helping it. The family of the thief being locked up is devastated, there may be children that have to go into child services. The store itself can be forced to raise prices, not only to make up for losses, but because the cost of insurance goes up drastically. The price difference can affect an entire community.
Finding Alternatives
Many thieves don't steal only because they need something, they steal for fun or because they're bored. One of the most useful tools that the habitual thief will learn from a shoplifting education class will be learning alternatives to the rush that they get from stealing. Classes will help thieves stay out of trouble by giving them the opportunity to think of what they would rather be doing other than stealing. Cities with the most theft include Atlanta, Georgia, Phoenix, Arizine, and Seattle, Washington
If a person is required to take theft classes, the length of time that they must attend classes will be decided by the judge. The classes can be taken in 4-hour, 6-hour, and 10hour stretches. The longer these classes last, the more likely the offender will become aware of their problem. Becoming self aware of the problem is where the behavior truly begins to turn around. Without this realization, they may continue to steal, even from friends and relatives.
These are only some of the ways that shoplifting classes will help keep thieves out of trouble. Without one, or all, of these lessons, the enrolled student may continue their crimes. That path will only lead to incarceration and possibly even death during a robbery. The different ways that these lessons will be taught are designed to be helpful to the student by guiding him or her to the principles and ideas that are taught from these classes.
