Shoplifting a thrilling, addictive habit for students

Teen Shoplifters ignore costly consequences for stealing at Wal-Mart. "It just a testing of the waters for teenagers. All of us do something bad until we get caught...it's something we'll all outgrow - if we don't get caught first." Thirteen percent of students admit that they have shoplifted at a Wal-Mart, according to a survey. Of the students who have shoplifted at Wal-Mart store, about 58 percent of them say they have stolen items from the store location across the street from school. Almost half said they were most likely to shoplift at the store after school let out. A 2001 University of North Texas survey found 38 percent of all shoplifters are between the ages of 13 and 17. But the numbers rise higher, with 62 percent of students admitting to shoplifting at least once. A lot of teenagers shoplift because it's really easy to to. They get what they want without having to pay consequences. The more they don't get caught, the more they'll keep doing it." However, consequences for shoplifting are expensive. Fines range anywhere from $500 to $5000, plus jail time. Police are allowed to arrest minors for shoplifting - even for stealing a candy bar. " If you get away with it once, eventually you're going to think you can get away with it all the time," Wal-Mart store manager steve Higbee said. "That is what's really going to hurt you. Eventually you're going to get caught."