What happens if you accidentally shoplift?

Call the store and explain first what happened and apologize. Then tell them you want to return to pay for the item. Pay for it even if you didn’t want it. You deprived the merchant the opportunity to sell it to someone else by having it.

Why is it wrong to steal from a store?

Stealing causes a big problem for a family when the thief is caught. Store owners have to spend more money to protect their things, which makes prices go up for paying customers. People don’t feel as safe when they’re worried about someone stealing. Stealing can even lead to violence.

What happens if you forget to pay for something at a store?

It is not shoplifting or petty theft if you forgot to pay for an item at the store and walked out with it. It could become a theft at the point you realize you took the item without paying for it and decide not to return the item or pay for it.

What should I do if my child steals something from my house?

Discuss the importance of taking good care of borrowed items and returning them to their owner. If you catch your child with stolen items, insist that they promptly return the stolen goods and apologize to the victim. You might help your child write an apology letter or accompany your child to the store to return the stolen items.

Why does my child steal things from school?

A child who is struggling with depression may use stealing as a way to cope. Whether your child has brought home a suspicious item from school that they claim was a gift, or you’ve caught them taking something from a store, the way you address the problem will influence the likelihood that they will steal again.

What are the consequences of a child stealing?

Stealing can have many legal, social, and emotional consequences for a child, including expulsion from daycare or school, and even criminal charges for teens. If your discipline strategies aren’t working to curb their stealing, it’s important to take things a step further.

Is it normal for a 5-year-old to steal things?

But I assumed that by 5, she’d learned not to take things that didn’t belong to her. In fact, stealing is perfectly normal for children this age, says family and child therapist Meri Wallace, director of the Heights Center for Adult and Child Development, in Brooklyn.