Do you have an addiction to shoplifting? Experts say that you are not alone. It is estimated that 3 million people in the U.S. are addicted to the crime. Much like an alcohol or drug craving, the desire becomes so strong, that individuals feel like they are out of control. It is common to hear about feelings of agitation, anxiousness and lack of sleep until they can fulfill the need.

There are many causes for compulsive shoplifting. It doesn’t matter what your ethnic or socioeconomic status is. Rich people and poor people, blacks and whites all steal. For some, it satisfies a need to get back at something, for others it's a way of getting attention. Whatever the reason, it’s horrible situation to be in. It’s a vicious circle of agitation, theft, guilt, agitation and theft again. The sad part is that many people live this way their entire lives because they are too ashamed or embarrassed to get help. They don’t want to make their addiction public, or to admit the problem to others because they are afraid of humiliation and/or other’s people’s judgment of them. Or, they are afraid of being arrested.

One solution to help shoplifting addicts learn how and why to overcome their compulsive tendencies is to take an online theft class. Taking a class online provides complete privacy for the participant. The only people that know you are seeking help for the addiction are you and the class itself. All personal information is kept completely confidential and the classes can be taken from any Internet connected computer device in your own home. This eliminates any worry of having to appear in a public classroom where others will see you.

When looking for an online class, be sure to do some research prior to enrolling. Make sure that the course is developed by licensed clinicians and experts in the field. Check that the class has a BBB rating of A+, so you know that the company doesn’t have any complaints against it. If you are interested in ease, investigate that the class is 100% on your computer screen and that there’s nothing to download or print out on your end. A good customer service phone number is also helpful in case you have any questions while taking the class. A bonus aspect is if you can speak directly with a licensed and practicing psychotherapist for any expert related questions.

Registration and navigation through the class is easy. You start by clicking on the length of class you are interested in. Set up a user name and password, pay and the class becomes available to you on the your computer screen. Instructions are given to you throughout the class, guiding you from page to page. You can stop and take breaks whenever you like and can enter and exit the class as many times as you wish. The computer program will hold your last spot for you and you just start again where you left off. You can finish the class quickly or take it over a period of weeks. An online theft education class gives the participant freedom and possibilities to complete the program at your own pace.