Why is there so little discussion in the news about shoplifting?

It is called kleptomania.

Kleptomania is the irresistible urge to steal items that you generally don’t really need and that usually have little value. Kleptomania (klep-toe-MAY-knee-uh) is a serious mental health disorder that can cause much emotional pain to you and your loved ones if not treated.

Kleptomania is a type of impulse control disorder — a disorder in which you can’t resist the temptation or drive to perform an act that’s harmful to you or someone else.

Many people with kleptomania live lives of secret shame because they’re afraid to seek mental health treatment. Although there’s no cure for kleptomania, treatment with medication or psychotherapy may be able to help end the cycle of compulsive stealing.

Why is there no discussion? Probably because it is so common and if we started one discussion it would never end.

It’s a lot like infidelity in that way. A frequent breach of trust, that happens so much that no one cares.

There’s just too much other more important news to report. If you think the topic needs more attention, and there is a demand for news on the subject, why not consider starting a news blog to cover it? You could go one step further and include a section about crimes being committed by celebrities as well.

Two reasons: need and the urge to get some control in their lives. You don’t hear about it because each occurrence is low-cost,

Unless done by a celeb or with some unusual style it is just not a glamorous crime and therefore, not newsworthy.

Cause no one cares? I think it’s that simple….who really wants to discuss shoplifting? It’s boring. Here’s some juice: I steal nail polish from target sometimes cause it’s overpriced and it’s Target so I don’t care. I could go on in detail if anyone wants put to sleep?

Did you just admit that you steal, @deni? And you are justifying it in your mind?

The news media is supposed to “report” events, not discuss them. I get so mad at the so-called 6 o clock news on TV these days with the reporters sitting around talking to each other like those insipid day time talk shows.

@bkcunningham Yes, I have no problem with it and feel no guilt. I would never steal from a small mom and pop store, or really anywhere other than Target or Walmart (which I straight up refuse to step foot in).

I think @marinelife and @deni have tapped into the psychology. The amount taken is usually fairly small, not at all newsworthy, and the perception is that large stores will hardly notice. What all stores do is pass the losses on to the public in the form of higher prices. I would be curious to know what percent of item cost is due to shoplifting. One or two percent of inventory may not sound like much, but most retail stores operate on a small profit margin, so that one or two percent could leverage into a larger percentage of the cost of the item.

Why do you refuse to step a foot into a Walmart, @deni?

@LostInParadise According to some articles, shrinkage of inventory due to theft runs between 1% and 8% in the U. S. That would mean consumer prices are increased by a similar percentage.

@YARNLADY LOL, Amen! Sing it loud to the people sitting in nose bleed bleachers!

There have been some great shoplifting stories on some of those true crime shows.
I can’t remember where I heard the story about the heavy set lady stealing frozen turkeys by shoving them up her skirt and holding them in with her thighs but that one was interesting.
It makes for great intertainment but when it has to compete with school shootings and politicians under investigation there is just no time left for the intertwining shoplifting story.