No parent wants to get the call that their child was detained for shoplifting. Yet it is important that they act swiftly should that day ever come.
Read on to learn more about the reasons behind teen shoplifting — and how parents can respond.
Why they might have done it
The reasons teens shoplift are frequently different from the reasons that adults shoplift store merchandise. Teens often experience peer pressure from friends who shoplift. They might think they will be bullied or ostracized should they refuse to follow the crowd and steal from department stores or other shops.
Other teenagers may acutely feel like an outsider because they can’t afford the latest designer labels or high-end accessories. They may resort to the five-finger discount in order to keep up appearances with the popular clique at school.
What parents can do
First, determine whether your teen has been arrested or is just detained by the store. If the latter is the case, there still may be a way to prevent the arrest if you act quickly. This is preferable to an arrest for many reasons, the least of which is the expense.
If your son or daughter is already in police custody, arrange to speak with them and advise them to refrain from answering any questions until you have arrived with defense counsel to protect their rights.
Protecting them doesn’t mean no recriminations
Teenagers don’t realize that youthful mistakes can follow them for life, denying them opportunities and closing many doors. But sometimes parents, with their accrued wisdom, can reinforce the consequences of shoplifting and other petty crimes without their children bearing the brunt of juvenile criminal records.
