The National Retail Federation reports that shoplifting is one of the fastest growing crimes in the U.S. Retail establishments across the country may be losing as $30 billion a year to thieves who are increasingly stealing small and easily concealable expensive items. We’ve seen an 11% spike in losses from 2010 to 2011.

According to the NRF, small items that can easily be hidden under garments and then resold are at the top of the lists. These include make-up, razors, pregnancy tests, batteries, over the counter medications, and other personal products that are then resold at swap meets or on the street.

Just this past week, Rudy Giuliani’s daughter was arrested for allegedly stealing five products worth more than $100 from a Sephora store in NYC. Caroline Giuliani was immediately taken to jail where she spent the next 5 hours. Her mother and attorney arrived at the precinct for her release and she will now have to face petty theft larceny charges. Simply put, she took someone else’s property without their permission with the intent to avoid paying for it. If the store presses charges, she will have to make full restitution, pay fines, lawyer fees and successfully complete a theft-counseling program.

When already wealthy individuals steal, the question always arises as to why? Therapists say that shoplifting occurs for one of many reasons. First, the person might feel that they deserve the item, so they’ll just take it. They have a sense of entitlement. Or, it gives the person a rush that makes them feel empowered and excited. Another way to look at it is the individual reaching out for attention and wanting to “payback”, embarrass or hurt someone else in their life that they feel has done the same to them.

If you have found yourself in the same shoes as Caroline Giuliani and have been arrested for shoplifting or petty theft, get your court’s approval to take theft prevention classes online. Online classes are highly beneficial to the offender because they can be taken from the comfort of home from any web-based computer. This means that after spending time in jail, doing community service work and spending time in court, you won’t have to miss any more work or school. Classes are easily accessible at the touch of a button and are immediately available. They can be taken at your own pace, at any time of the day or night. You don’t have to waste more time and money by driving across town to a traditional classroom on someone else’s timeline. Simply enroll in the course length the court has mandated (either 4, 8, 10 or 16 hours) and get it done in one day, one weekend, or one week, whatever works best for you!

With court approval, be sure to take a high quality course that has a BBB rating of A+, a 100% money-back guarantee and is designed by a licensed and practicing psychotherapist. Shoplifting is often a result of poor judgment and impulse control issues. Jurisdictions across the country now require individuals take these courses because they have found that fines and jail time are not enough to rehabilitate the behavior. A 10-hour online theft class uses a cognitive behavioral approach to help improve the offender’s way of thinking so they won’t consider repeating the behavior. Online theft classes are the best way to fulfill a court requirement.

The aftermath of Hurricane Sandy is still not completely known. Many people have lost their homes and all their belongings. The latest reports state that the death toll is up to 110 people. Recovery efforts are ongoing as crews try to get supplies to the hardest-hit areas. In the midst of this chaos, Sandy’s hurricane force winds brought not only destruction, but waves of looters. On Staten Island, approximately 9 people were arrested this past weekend for stealing from shops in the area. Thieves were seen carrying out bags of items from Rite-Aid, while other looters broke into Discount Wine and Liquors and took off with thousands of dollars worth of alcohol.

‘People were running in and out of Rent-A-Center carrying these big flat screens. They were holding on tight,’ witness Aisha John, 20, told the New York Daily News. ‘I couldn't understand how someone could steal a big TV in broad daylight, but no one cared.’

Across NYC, there have been numerous complaints of theft since the hurricane hit, leading to a 7% rise in burglary reports from Monday – Thursday of last week, compared to the same time period last year. Police also state that they won’t know the full wrath of looters until the coming weeks as they get a handle on the overall situation. More property crimes are expected to be reported as people start to return to their abandoned homes and evaluate the situation.

While the majority of society tends to come together to help each other during crisis, some lack a sense of ethics and feel like it’s an opportunity to take what they somehow deserve. These people lack a social awareness of how their behavior affects those around them, and specifically the businesses and small business that they steal from.

The 9 out of at least 50 thieves that were sighted by witnesses, who were actually caught this past weekend, will be in for some serious punishment. It is unimaginable that the judges involved will go lightly on these offenders during this time of multi-state natural disaster. Theft diversion and prevention classes will most likely be mandated by the court as part of the punishment these shoplifters will face.

Online Theft classes are an ideal way for individuals who have been caught stealing to fulfill their court ordered theft education mandate. Taking a class online enables you to learn in the private and relaxed environment of your own home. There is no need to make any appointments or meet someone else’s timeline. You just register online for the class length that has been required and it’s available to you immediately. You are then able to go at your own pace and take the class when it fits most conveniently into your own schedule. This is a highly beneficial aspect for people worried about having to miss work or school to attend a live classroom course. Many people also report that they are able to focus and learn more in the quiet environment at home verses in a classroom full of strangers. Testimonies from online users across the country agree that this is the most convenient and educational way learn how and why to stop stealing.

There are all sorts of shoplifting and theft techniques out there these days, however, with modern technology like video cameras and magnetic devices, it is easier to catch a thief. Tennessee has had some interesting stories lately.

In the Old Hickory Mall in Jackson, Tennessee this past weekend, 3 people were caught on tape entering a store carrying their own shopping bags full of items. They then proceeded to gather and add several designer shirts and other products. The trio took more than $2,000 worth of merchandise and left the store. These shoplifters were caught on tape and ultimately apprehended. These offenders need a Tennessee 10-hour theft education class to help them change their ways!

In another story, the Highway Patrol Criminal Investigations Division along with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department has recently charged 6 people for allegedly stealing trailer loads of scrap metal cargo over the past 2 years. It’s estimated that the theft has been worth about $1.8 million. In this instance, security guards were actually paid off to overlook the situation while the shipments were being diverted to another scrap metal yard. Everyone involved in this major heist will also be court ordered to take a theft diversion class.

And yet, in a third type of theft, residents in Henderson County should review their checking accounts at First Bank. Police have received 12 identity theft reports in the area. Customers are seeing debit card withdrawals made from out of state on their accounts.

Like all jurisdictions (federal and state), Tennessee distinguishes among offenses based on the varying degrees of severity. In almost all offenses, the legal system requires that offenders take theft education classes as part of their retribution. They want to make sure that along with all the fines, jail time and community service, the offender realizes that what he’s done is wrong and how it’s affected society around him. The goal is to make the thief think twice before ever stealing again.

Taking a Tennessee online theft class will benefit the thieves involved in the stories above, as well anyone else involved in a stealing based offense. Online classes provide the same current academics and skills based learning as traditional classroom courses, with the added benefit of no commute. Course topics include the impact of theft on society, understanding the psychology of stealing, empathy training and how to utilize various intervention techniques to stop the behavior.

Court mandated offenders just need to check with their judge or probation officer to make sure that distance-learning theft education programs are accepted in their jurisdiction. If so, the client simply clicks on the length of class they have been ordered to take, makes payment, and the class is available immediately.

Online classes are completely self-paced. There is no following someone else’s timeline or schedule; it’s all up to the client. The classes are available online 24/7, so they can be taken early in the morning or late at night so as not to interrupt a work schedule. Taking a theft class online provides the client the education he needs without the public humiliation of taking a group class.

The statistics on shoplifting are staggering. The U.S. National Association for Shoplifting Prevention reports that one in every 11 Americans shoplifts. Of these, 75 percent are adults, 25 percent are under the age of 18. More than $13 billion dollars worth of merchandise is stolen from retailers each year, which is more than $35 per day! When shoplifters are questioned as to whether they pre-planned the crime, 73% of adults and 72% of juveniles report that the act was on a whim, not premeditated.

Anyone who follows the local news can see that shoplifters steal from all types of stores. This includes big corporations like Wal-Mart, Target and Kroger to the little mom and pop convenience and Hallmark stores. As reported by the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention, many shoplifters will buy merchandise at the same time that they also steal merchandise. Offenders generally take from $2.00 to $200 per theft. These stores in turn have to raise prices across the board just to cover the cost of potential theft. Therefore, this individual offense affects society as a whole.

Most shoplifters steal not for need, but for the thrill or adrenaline high they get from the act. Like a drug or alcohol addiction, shoplifting is a difficult habit to break. Usually shoplifters are able to get away with the act many times prior to getting caught, so the behavior can go on for many years before the individual is thwarted by the law. However, sooner or later an offender is going to end up in front of a judge unless this addiction is dealt with before it’s too late.

Online theft prevention classes are an excellent opportunity for individuals to get this behavior under control and overcome the habit before it becomes a legal issue. Online theft classes are available from any Internet based computer, anywhere in the United States, 24 hours a day. The client simply registers for the class length they are interested in and the class becomes available immediately. From then on, the client can take the course whenever it fits conveniently into her schedule. You can login and out as many times as you wish and the computer holds your previous spot.

Many offenders don’t think about the offense and how it is affecting the storeowner and society in general. They perform the act, feel the thrill, and move on. 4 hour online theft classes teach valuable skills to help offenders use self-control to monitor their behavior. The student will gain knowledge through empathy training and learn skills in emotional intelligence, stress management and effective communication.

All classes are available for court ordered clients as well. Upon passing the final exam at the end of the program, a certificate of completion is issued. As long as your court system has pre-approved the class, they will accept this documentation as proof that the requirement has been fulfilled. All in all, students who have taken online theft classes overwhelmingly report that the course opened their eyes to the enormity of the problem they had, helped them to gain impulse control, and wish they would have taken them sooner!

How do you know if your teen is shoplifting and if she is then why is she doing it? As we’ve all seen in the headlines, shoplifters are not just the poor or needy. In wealthy communities around the U.S., teenagers are frequently caught for taking items without paying for them. In fact, in the U.S., shoplifters steal about $25 million from stores each and every day! This directly affects every consumer because stores need to mark-up products to cover for this potential loss.

Teenage shoplifting isn’t limited to students who are involved with drugs or alcohol, or are poor students. Your child who is getting straight A’s, is involved in school activities and is helpful at home could easily get roped into this behavior due to peer pressure or the thrill of the act. Always being perfect isn’t always very fun, and some teens find this rebellious act enticing. Sometimes, the young adult is looking for attention from peers while trying to get in with a more “popular” crowd. Or, they just want to stay up with the fashions and can’t afford the name brands, so they do it to keep up with the trends.

Teens don’t often look at the long-term results of their behavior and they believe they can get away with it. If your teen is caught stealing, it’s important that parents follow through with strict consequences to halt the behavior. The adolescent should return the stolen item, apologize to the place of business and should face harsher than normal punishment at home including grounding and taking away privileges. If it is a first time offense, the store may not press charges, but if they do, the judge will most likely mandate that the teen takes a theft education class.

Children of all ages need to understand that shoplifting isn’t just about taking the one item from the store, but it’s taking money from the people who own the business. It’s important that they understand how this theft affects society as a whole. Theft education classes cover this topic as well as understanding the cause of the behavior and preventative skills that support stopping the unlawful behavior. Teens will learn all about the consequences and risks of shoplifting. Judges generally have little tolerance for repeat offenders and the punishment gets more severe with each offense.

If your teen has been mandated by court, school or an employer to take a theft education course, the best way to go about it is to take them online. Online theft classes can be accessed from any Internet based computer. This makes it easier for both the parent and student because you don’t need to get across town to make a set time of a traditional classroom setting. Young adults are very much in tune with computers and often find this a more relaxed and interesting way to approach learning. Classes are often lower in price than a live class because there is no overhead in rent to pay. However, the subject matter is current and a licensed and practicing psychotherapist can be contacted with any questions or concerns.

Whether your child is showing signs of shoplifting or has already been convicted, online theft classes will provide them the education they need to put a stop to the behavior. Taking the proactively will save you and the family a great deal of future heartache.