According to a preliminary National Retail Security Survey that came out this past summer, numbers show that retail theft was about $34.5 billion in 2011! According to this survey, the majority of shrinkage last year was due to employee theft, which accounted for 43.9% of total losses. Shoplifting and various forms of theft continue to be a monumental problem in the U.S. These losses affect every single individual as retailers have to account for it by increasing the retail price of every good sold.

All the hype and media for this year’s Black Friday sales sent millions of shoppers out on Thursday evening when many stores opened early. Some researchers are predicting that one of the biggest ways that retail stores will take a hit this holiday season is through fraudulent returns. This is when thieves create fraudulent receipts to return products for cash or store credit. It’s predicted that this will cost retailers about $3 billion this holiday season.

Unfortunately, this past shopping weekend was no better than in years past for shoplifting and theft. Many Wal-Marts across the country took a proactive stance by hiring extra security officers. In Texas, store officials periodically work with local police by hiring off duty officers to help reduce shoplifting. In New Braunfels, a total of 15 arrests were made over the weekend for a variety of illegal offenses. The items that were stolen ranged from clothing, food and beauty supplies to fishing spool, pillowcases and even bigger items like skateboards. One woman acting on her own tried to steal over $900 worth of items!

In other reported cases, a perpetrator at a Wal-Mart in Athens, Georgia faces charges for actually assaulting a store employee who was attempting to detain him due to a suspected theft. And, in a very sad case, a man who officers say was trying to steal two DVD players from another Wal-Mart in Georgia died after two employees and a security officer apprehended him. When the police arrived the trio were sitting on him and he was showing no response.

The question remains is getting caught and even potentially harmed in some way worth it for a couple of electronic devices? For some, the impulsive behavior is too tempting and they just can’t overcome it on their own. This is why the courts mandate theft classes to convicted offenders. The goal is to take a deep look at the person’s motivations and what exactly triggers the behavior. A typical court mandated 8 Hour Theft Class will teach the client empathy, how to be more self-aware and how to deal with and overcome this lack of impulse control. The intention is to learn from your past mistakes with the help of a cognitive behavioral approach to improve thinking and behavior.

If you need to take a program related to stealing, theft, shoplifting or larceny, ask your judge or court system if you can take the course online. High quality online classes are readily available at the click of a button from any web-based Ipad, PC or laptop. Taking the course online enables the client to stay at home to learn the material. They are also beneficial to those who want or need to get the class over with quickly. The client can sit down and take a 10-hour theft class online in one weekend instead of having to follow a predetermined classroom schedule of one hour a week for 10 weeks. Online classes are affordable and simple to use. The client simply registers, and then follows the course by topic and chapter. At the end of the class a multiple choice final exam is issued. With a 70% score or better, a Certificate of Completion is mailed out to you. This is the official documentation to show to the court system that the class was successfully completed.

Start an online theft class today to learn new skills to gain control of your impulsive behavior and change your life for the better!

If you have recently been caught for shoplifting or theft, the court has probably required that you take an “anti-stealing” class to help change your thinking and behavior. After a long history of sending offenders to jail and having them pay fines, the legal system has come to realize that this is not enough to modify the behavior. Theft education or diversion classes specifically address the psychology of stealing, the consequences and legal risks, and skills to help offenders to better control their actions.

Finding the right theft or shoplifting class can be difficult. One option is to physically attend an in-person class. Traditional classroom based classes generally have a preset schedule that meets once a week, and the offender goes to the number of classes it takes to fulfill the length of requirement as mandated by the court. The issue with in-person classes is that because of the pre-determined class schedule, the individual might have to miss work or school to attend. In big cities, there are often a number of classes to choose from. However, in smaller cities or towns, it can be hard to find one that fits your schedule. Weather can play a roll as well. If your requirement needs to be filled during the winter months, you might have to spend your weekend time driving or walking through rain or snow to get to the school site. Also, attending a classroom means getting involved in rehabilitation with a room full of strangers. For a shy or embarrassed participant, this can prove painful.

A second and more convenient choice is to take an online theft diversion class. Online classes are available from any web-based device such as a PC, an IPad or laptop. With prior approval from the court system, they are often accepted as another way to fulfill court requirements.

Online programs have become very popular because they are more convenient than in-person courses. Classes are offered in lengths of 4, 8, 10 and 16 hours and can be taken at your own pace. The client can login and out as many times as he wants, so it can be fit in for ½ an hour one day, and 3 ½ the next, whatever works best in the client’s busy lifestyle. Online classes enable the individual to get through the course more quickly because instead of having to take a 10-hour theft class over 10 weeks, he can finish it one weekend if he so chooses.

When reviewing the different online class options, be sure to choose one that is designed by a licensed and practicing psychotherapist and impulse control expert. This will insure that you are getting the most current, accurate information available in the field today. Also check for a Better Business Bureau Rating of A+ and a 100% money back guarantee. It is also beneficial to make sure that while the client is taking the class, he has the opportunity to speak directly with the program director if any questions or issues arise.

The bottom line is that while there are currently two options to fulfilling your court mandated theft education requirements; most people agree that taking a class online is a more convenient, fun and interesting way to go about it.

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!

Shoplifters working in crews are more sophisticated these days. Despite increased surveillance by cameras, sensors and guards, individuals continue to try to defy the odds. Fox Business News reported that “Shoplifting, employee or supplier fraud and organized retail crime cost the U.S. retail industry $119 billion in 2011.” This same Fox report estimated that in 2011, all segments of retail theft cost U.S. consumers $446 per family. The bottom line is that thieves do not have any interest or empathy for those they are stealing from and just don’t understand how their behavior affects society in general.

In that vain, an organized group of thieves in San Diego, California were apprehended Tuesday night and will need to take an Advanced 16 Hour Theft Class to learn why exactly their actions are illegal and unacceptable. The crew of shoplifters took several loads of merchandise, about $2,000-worth of clothing, purses and shoes from stores in Fashion Valley mall before leading San Diego police on a foot and vehicle chase through Mission Valley.

This group attempted to pull off their plot by working together utilizing counter surveillance, divisionary and diversion tactics in an attempt to defeat all the security measures in place. Specifically, they sent crew members into stores with aluminum lined shopping bags and tools to strip off the sensors. This all took place while other members attempted to divert the attention of store personnel. Detectives waited for the shoplifters to put all the merchandise in the SUVs that were waiting before descending on the scene. This caused mayhem as some of the thieves took off running through the crowded mall. Three people have been apprehended, while two more are on the loose.

In this case, thieves targeted big name stores like Bloomingdales, Abercrombie and Fitch, and Hollister. These are big, high-end chains that they probably thought wouldn’t feel the loss too much. However, what these shoplifters didn’t take into consideration is that because of this kind of theft, retail chains across the country have to increase the overall prices of items to cover for this potential loss. Theft and shoplifting affects everyone in society.

Legal systems across the country now assign theft classes to all shoplifters. The idea is that throwing thieves in jail and making them pay fines isn’t enough to change the behavior. They get out of jail just to perform the same illegal acts again. Taking 10 or 16 hours of classes on theft teaches these individuals exactly how their behavior affects society and skills to overcome or divert the compulsion to steal.

If you are in need of a theft class, the easiest and most convenient way to fulfill this court mandate is to take them online. Quality classes are available from any Ipad, laptop or personal computer, at any time of the day or night. All you have to do is go online, register and the class is available to you immediately. Nothing needs to be printed out or downloaded and the entire experience is completely private. If you are looking to get past this experience as quickly as possible, you can sit down over one weekend and finish the course. Or, you can spread it out after work or school over a couple of weeks. Once you pass the final exam with a 70% or better, an official certificate of completion is sent out to you. This is what you need to present to the court to prove that you accomplished the court order. You will find taking an online course to be highly educational and an interesting, fun way to learn new material!

How do we protect our expensive Smartphones from being stolen? They are easy targets because of their small size and availability. Are you one of those people who pull it out of your pocket or purse and put it down on the table in front of you when you’re at a restaurant? The idea is to be available if the babysitter is trying to get a hold of you, or anyone else for that matter. If you’ve ever had a Smartphone stolen, you are in the midst of great company. According to research by mobile security firm Lookout, you are most at risk of it being stolen in major metropolitan cities. And, in the U.S., the average person experiences a loss, or theft of a Smartphone about once a year.

The top 10 cities for stolen phones as determined by Lookout's Find My Phone app are:

1. Philadelphia

2. Seattle

3. Oakland

4. Long Beach

5. Newark

6. Detroit

7. Cleveland

8. Baltimore

9. New York

10. Boston

In order to prevent theft, individuals should always be aware of their surroundings and keep your phone out of reach. Push it deep in your pocket, or purse, not sitting out on a table in a bar, restaurant, or coffee house where someone can easily snatch it or you might easily leave it behind. Don’t let the size lull you into forgetting how expensive Smartphones are! These items can be worth up to $800 and can easily be resold on the street.

Although it can seem like a lucrative, quick business, don’t fall into this type of behavior. Take online theft diversion classes to help you regain your sense of morals and learn tips to redirect and overcome the impulsive feelings. Now with the tracker software in place on most IPhones, it’s easier than ever to catch up with thieves. If you have been unfortunate enough to be tracked and arrested for this theft, you will most likely have to make restitution, pay court fines, possible community service and the judge will generally assign a theft class.

If this is your situation, the easiest, most convenient and educational way to fulfill the requirement is to take an online theft diversion class. Just check with your court system first to make sure that the class you choose is accepted. If it is a high quality course, many jurisdictions now understand the value of online classes and approve them. It enables the offender to stay at home and avoid having to drive across town to a class that is designated at a certain time. This puts more pressure on the theft offender and can cause work and school disruptions. Online courses contain the same information taught in traditional classrooms, but the entire curriculum is on the screen in front of you. A final exam is issued at the end of the course. With a 70% or better, a Certificate of Completion will immediately be mailed directly to you. The final can be retaken as many times as necessary for successful completion of the course.

If you have been caught for shoplifting or theft, take an online theft class now to fulfill court requirements, gain theft aversion skills and move on with your life!