I Just caught my daughter trying to steal... HELP!!!

Paula - posted on 10/29/2009

I caught my son doing that, too, only he did it when he was younger. I would catch him and then I'd do the unimaginable....I would make him walk right up to someone who worked in the store...and was near him or talked to him when we were shopping and I made him not only give it back to the sales associate, but tell them what he had done and apologize. The first few times didn't do much good but the last time sure did! The last time he was old enough that something clicked and he was so upset and devastated when he had to talk to the sales associate that he was bawling the whole time! He has yet to do it again...and that was about four or five years ago!

Christine - posted on 08/11/2009

Last year my son stole a packet of trading cards from a store. He was with his father and older brother at the time, and his father noticed as they left the store that my son was acting a bit sneaky. He checked his pockets and sure enough, he had taken the cards from the store. They immediatly returned to the store and went to the management to teach my son a little lesson about stealing. The store did nothing, just told my son that it was not OK to steal. My son's father was not satisfied with the "punishment" and decided to flag down a police officer on the way home. He actually chased one down, and the officer pulled him over. The officer pulled out a gun on his car, and made him leave the car. Both of our sons were in the car, and started crying because they were so scared! My children's father ended up with a ticket and learned a lesson himself that day.



My advice is to let the store know, they can speak to your daughter of the possible consequences for stealing. Then at home, let her know that she broke your trust in her, and that she needs to earn the privilege of shopping with you back. Extreme punishments do not work, and remaining calm and in control is best.

Angie - posted on 08/06/2009

My daugher is 7, she was with some neighborhood kids and they went to the grocery store without my knowing it. She came and told me that the other kids had stole some candy, she was extremely upset about it. I went with her to their house so she could tell their parents what happened. The next morning I took her to the grocery store to tell them what happened and to pay for the candy they gave her. She has definetly learned her lesson that night.

Jennifer - posted on 07/27/2009

One Sunday before church I stopped at the drug store to pick up cold medicine. My daughter put chap stick in her pocket but I didn't know about it until we were at Church. At church I made her kneel and pray for God's forgiveness and to tell God she was sorry for stealing. Upon leaving church we went back to the drug store and I asked for the store manager. I made my daughter tell the manager what she did and to give the chap stick back. The store manager gave her a little lecture and we haven't stolen anything since. Matter of fact, when we go into a store, her hands usually go into her pockets so she doesn't touch anything.

Debbie - posted on 03/10/2009

When I was around second grade, I took a piece of candy out of a store (like a 5 cent piece of candy) and my mom found out when we got to the car. She made me go back into the store and hand it back over to them and explain how sorry I was for it. It really made an impact on me.



My daughter has commented before that she could just take something and leave the store but I've tried to put a bit of fear in her head and let her know that her uncle stole something from a store before (when he was a teenager) and they called the cops on him and how much trouble he got into.



And I also try to put her into the other person's shoes. I'll ask her if she'd like it if things of hers were stolen just because someone wanted them and how that'd make her feel.

Jenny - posted on 02/16/2009

I work in retail there was one morning I was working a fathter came in with his 7 or 8 year old son. The son had ripped off some baseball cards the day before from our store.The dad came in with his son the boy paid for cards with is own money and walked out of the store without the cards the dad had me put back the unopened cards back on the shelf. It was a good way of teaching a lesson.



Now with my son on the brink of turning 8 if I ever need to address this type of situation. That will be a route I will look at making him pay for it and leaving it at the store with the cashier.

Rachel - posted on 02/13/2009

oh that's just gross. where are we headed when a 2nd grader carries a cell phone! yuck. sorry!

Amie - posted on 02/13/2009

Me too. I think most Mom's feel that way too- but I've been amazed at how many kids in er 2ND GRADE class have their own cells.

Rachel - posted on 02/13/2009

Quoting Amie:

Picture this: I pick up my 7 year old from her cousins house. In the car, she pulls out a cell phone and says her cousin (8 yrs) gave her her old phone. She proves to me that it works by calling my phone. It all didn't add up, so I confronted her about it. She addmitted to me thatshe took it. I turned around and drove back to the house and made her hand the phone back herself and explain what happened. She was hysterical and in tears but I was mortified! She had never done anything like this before, she gets pretty much what she wants... Maybe that is the problem. But, We talked after about stealing and how wrong it is as well as the consequences that can come of it later in life. She was also grounded for a week. People I have spoke to told me that it is just something that kids try out. I know se wishes for a phone of her own but I just don't believe a 7,8,9, or 10 year old needs a cell of their own. If you can relate- speak to me.

I don't think a child that young should be given a cell-phone. The only thing I would consider is one of the phones that can only call the emergency numbers or mum - and only for things like walking to school or going to the park - otherwise, NUH UH.

Rachel - posted on 02/13/2009

Interesting - yes, I think each child has to do it once to learn the consequences - I remember my first time! And I remember my first son's first time. Consequences were the same. A good scolding, return the item and apologize and some other small form of punishment. Worked with me, and worked with my son - though, he was 4 - and I was about the same age.

Amie - posted on 02/11/2009

Picture this: I pick up my 7 year old from her cousins house. In the car, she pulls out a cell phone and says her cousin (8 yrs) gave her her old phone. She proves to me that it works by calling my phone. It all didn't add up, so I confronted her about it. She addmitted to me thatshe took it. I turned around and drove back to the house and made her hand the phone back herself and explain what happened. She was hysterical and in tears but I was mortified! She had never done anything like this before, she gets pretty much what she wants... Maybe that is the problem. But, We talked after about stealing and how wrong it is as well as the consequences that can come of it later in life. She was also grounded for a week. People I have spoke to told me that it is just something that kids try out. I know se wishes for a phone of her own but I just don't believe a 7,8,9, or 10 year old needs a cell of their own. If you can relate- speak to me.

Celena - posted on 02/04/2009

We were in Walmart, and my 9yr old son whispered to me that he thinks his sisiter put a lil keychain notebook in her pocket. I asked her, she said no, My son said, where is it then, it was right there.... She said she didn't know where it went, and started turning really read and getting a lil agitated. I asked her if I could check her pockets... and immediately she pulled it out and said, she 'Forgot' she put it there and it was an accident. She put it back, I explained to her the consequences of getting caught by the store for stealing and we immediately left. I was with my Mom as well, and I wanted to go to coustomer service and ask the manager to explain to her what happens when someone steals from his store. But my mom disagreed. So we went home.

Leah - posted on 02/03/2009

i find asking her how she felt about it and how would she feel about it if she had something taken from her. then i also ask why did she not just ask me for it.. i have a good repor with my kids so we talk about everything..sometimes all you ned to do is just talk

Paulette - posted on 02/03/2009

I have a friend who caught her 6 year old son with a stolen toy after they had left the store.  She made him go back to the store, tell the lady what he had done, and pay for it out of his own money.  Then, before leaving the store, she made him throw the toy in the garbage.  He cried the whole way home.  He's 18 now.  He still remembers what happened and never stole anything again.

Jennifer - posted on 02/02/2009

|I caught my daughter when she was 3 trying to steal nail polish from the store i worked at who was she stealing from? and what was uit that makes a difference in how to handle the situation