Shoplifting is a criminal act that occurs year-round, but many storeowners believe that it increases during the summer months. Kids have more unsupervised free time on their hands and will often hang out at malls to beat the heat. Boredom, peer pressure, the thrill of the moment all contribute to teenage shoplifting. If you have made this mistake this summer and have been caught, there are a number of issues that you are going to have to deal with.
The first is obviously the public embarrassment of getting caught stealing in the first place. Unlike a burglar who may get caught in the act by the police on his own, a shoplifter is more often than not caught by a store employee or security guard and marched through the entire store back to the office to await the police. And, of course, you have probably been caught with a group of friends hovering around who may or may not be doing the same thing but haven’t been caught. This whole scene is then followed by the private shame when your parents are notified.
The police will take you to the station where you will be booked and a court date will be set. At the arraignment, the judge will determine what type of sentence to hand you based on your previous record and the situation at hand. If it is a first-time offender, the judge will most likely impose a fine, community service and to take a theft class.
At this point, you’ve probably lost all privileges at home, your parent’s are furious with you and you’ve taken up a great deal of time and energy to deal with the situation. The best way to fulfill the learning portion of your sentence is to take a theft class online. Classes are available by licensed therapists who have put together educational, high-quality and interesting programs. Your parents will be happy because they don’t have to drive you to a traditional classroom. You can take them from the convenience of your own computer any time of the day or night 24/7. You can drop-in and out of the classes as your schedule allows, so you are in control of how quickly you accomplish completion. Another huge benefit is that they are completely private and confidential. No one needs to know that you have to take them since you do not need to show up in a public place so you don’t have to endure further embarrassment.
The main emphasis of online shoplifting classes is not on the fact that you have been caught doing something wrong, but on why you are doing it. The hope is that once you truly understand why you have committed or continue to commit this crime, you will be able to resist the temptation. This is a fairly typical psychological approach to any type of compulsive behavioral issue and has been found to be very effective with the vast majority of those who attend these classes. At the end of the 4 – 16 hour class, (the length is determined by the court), you will receive a certificate of completion. This is similar to a diploma and is what you turn in to prove you successfully completed the course. Taking theft and shoplifting classes online to fulfill your court requirements is definitely the easiest and most stress-free way to handle an already stressful summer.
