Thinking Twice About Shoplifting

To some shoplifting may seem like a petty crime and often comes with the excuse, “It’s not like I killed someone, it’s just a shirt.” It may seem as though it isn’t a big deal, but it is. When your 16 years old, you feel like you can get away with anything. You feel invincible.

Speaking from experience, I know the feeling, the reality is you’re not invincible, and you cannot get away with anything, clearly. You are flooded with overwhelming emotions; some of which include fear, regret, shame, what if’s and more. At that time, you are mainly focused on yourself, what to do and what’s going to happen next. You don’t really thing of the impact your mistake has on others.

Shoplifting not only affects you personally, but it affects your parents, your community, and the store in which you stole form and so on. When you steal from a store, they lose money, seeing as you are not paying for your product. Also, when someone is caught stealing, it takes up valuable time from the store manager; it takes up time from your local police officers and your parents. I can imagine the emotions my parents felt when they got a call from the police. They were ashamed, as well as disappointed.

I was being tried as a juvenile because I’m not 18 and got to go through the Juvenile Diversion Program as an alternative of going to court. However, if I was two years older, I would have no choice but to go to court. Then I would have a criminal record, which would take a toll on the rest of my life; it would be difficult to get a job, get into certain colleges, etc.

When I got caught, I remember being absolutely terrified. I know I had been caught and there would be consequences. The emotions I felt were some I never, EVER want to feel again and I will think before I do anything from now on.

If you have to think twice about something, you probably shouldn’t do it. That is one of the many lessons I have learned from doing this program and I am very grateful that I got this opportunity.