” Shoplifting Can Kill You (or Others) “
by
Terrence Daryl Shulman
ANNOUNCEMENTS! Happy Valentines Day!Mark your calendars!Therapist Telephone Training on compulsive theft and spending begins this February! Please contact Terrence Shulman at terrenceshulman@theshulmancenter.com or 248-358-8508 for more information.Be on the cutting edge of these newer and exciting fields of treatment. Led by Mr. Shulman, learn howto assess and treat clients who suffer from compulsive theft and/or spending.Check out our newly updated blog at http://blog.theshulmancenter.com/________________________________________________________________________________________
Shoplifting Can Kill You (or Others)!http://www.freep.com/article/20100116/COL32/1160357/1001/NLETTER09/http://freep.com/article/20100115/NEWS03/100115040/1319/Shoplifting-suspects-to-be-arraigned-in-guards-death
The above article links chronicle events which occurred in the metro-Detroit area in mid-January. Inone instance, a security guard was dragged to death by a vehicle he attempted to stop which wasdriven by a couple of suspected “petty shoplifters.” In the second and unrelated instance, later thatsame day, three men suspected of “petty shoplifting” were eluding police on a freeway–endangeringothers–and crashed their car: all 3 were killed.The following is an opinion/editorial piece I quickly composed and forwarded to several of our largestlocal newspapers. It was not published–nor did I receive any follow-up responses of interest. I offer ithere as a reminder to us all–whatever your thoughts or feelings on these type of events–which are not isolated and seem to be increasing in today’s economy–that life is precious and many tragedies are tragedies because their consequences are so often unforeseen…“And so we are here again: multiple deaths related to shoplifting incidents in our community—thistime, within a 24-hour cycle.
What a tragedy for all: the security guard killed while trying to apprehend a Pontiac couple, the threemen killed on the freeway trying to elude police after their suspected petty theft, and the familiesand friends of those who knew the deceased.
And, of course, Detroit makes the national (and world) news again.
Not since roughly 10 years ago—in 2001—did the crime of shoplifting make the news in such adramatic way. Of course, there was Winona Ryder’s (in)famous shoplifting arrest (and subsequenttrial and conviction), But there were also four local deaths between late 2000 and 2001–all suspectedshoplifters including a man choked at Kroger’s, a man suffocated at Rite Aid, and a woman crushedwhile hiding in a trash compactor outside Fairlane Mall.
In 2001, we scratched our heads over Winona—why would she do it, she’s a millionaire? In theDetroit area deaths—as attorney Geoffrey Fieger represented the family’s of the deceased—our localand national conversation seemed limited to whether the security guards used excessive force or wereracist (all the guards and victims were black) or whether, somehow, those who do the crime can’tcontrol their fate (in other words, they may have deserved it).
One thing positive may have come from those deaths a decade ago: the state legislature beganthe process for a universal training for loss prevention and store security personnel. From myresearch, some other states followed suit.
Of course, these changes didn’t prevent the recent tragedies before us.
I asked the question then in a Free Press op-ed (I don’t believe it was ever answered) and I ask itagain now? Why is there so much shoplifting and what, really, can be done? Of course, complexquestions often entail complex answers.
Some theorized that maybe the most recent shoplifters stole to sell items to feed their drug habit.Another theory is that the economy led others to make desperate and rash decisions. There may besome truth to either theory but that’s little comfort to anyone. Statistics show that a sizeable portionof the community shoplifts and that, since the economic downturn 2 years ago shoplifting hasincreased 5-10%. A recent study by Jack Hayes, International estimates there are 300 millionshoplifting incidents in the U.S. each year.
One size doesn’t fit all. People shoplift for different reasons: there are professional thieves who do itfor a living. There are drug/alcohol addicts, gambling addicts, and even shopping addicts who steal tosave money to get their fix or steal and sell to get their fix or pay off debts. There are those who feelthey have to steal due to lack of money. There are youth who steal on a dare or to “keep up withthe (younger) Joneses.” And there are people who actually get addicted to shoplifting itself—the high,the rush, the adrenaline.
In March 2010 I will be celebrating 20 years of recovery myself from shoplifting addiction. It tooktwo arrests—the last in 1990—before I “hit my bottom.” I felt so depressed I almost took my own lifeover the shame of shoplifting. Fortunately, I entered counseling to deal with my issues and laterstarted local support groups and became an addiction therapist specializing in treating “theftdisorders”—including shoplifting and employee theft.
In my many years working with persons in our support groups as well as my private clients, I haveknown or heard of persons who killed themselves over shoplifting, persons who lost their marriages,their kids, their careers, their freedom, their dignity. It is never worth it—but tell that to someone who already doesn’t value their life.
Most shoplifters don’t flee when confronted or apprehended. Many begin crying, many secretly wantto get caught so their secret pain and out-of-control behavior might end.
Unfortunately, many do panic. And the results can be deadly. Yes, like alcohol, drugs, and otheraddictions, shoplifting can be dangerous to your health…and the health of others.
So, if you have a shoplifting problem–whatever the reason–or you’re thinking about shoplifting assome kind of solution–don’t do it! Get help now. And if you know or suspect a family member or friendis shoplifting or thinking about shoplifting, talk to the–quickly–before it’s too late.”________________________________________________________________________________________Consumer Confidence?U.S. retail sales actually dropped by 2% in December 2009 compared to December 2008 despite a rebounding economy. Final figures for the entire year 2009 are still pending. While certain ecomomicindicators have improved (such as the stock market) and others have leveled off (such as un-employment, inflation, and fuel prices) we all need to be aware that an “aftershock” could be loomingand we need to find a healthy balance between spending and saving–not just now but always.________________________________________________________________________________________Launching of Bay Area Impulse Control CenterI’d like to give a shout out to my friend and colleague Elizabeth Corsale, of the former ShopliftersRecovery Program in San Francisco. She and her colleague, Dr. Samantha Smithstein, are launchingThe Bay Area Impulse Control Center this month. They will treat a variety of disorders includingstealing, sex addiction, and video game/Internet addiction.Please visit their website at: www.impulsecontrolcenter.com———————————————————————————————————————————————————–Noted Money Harmony Therapist/Author Offering TeleconferencsOlivia Mellan, a Washington, D.C.-based therapist and author who specializes in working with moneyissues and overshopping and overspending is offering a series of teleconference seminars whichare designed to help individuals and/or couples learn how to find harmony around these issues. Icount Olivia as both a colleague and a friend and consider her, along with Dr. April Benson of New Yorkto be among the early pioneers on money/shopping/spending issues.Please visit Olivia and find out more about her work at: www.moneyharmony.com_________________________________________________________________________________________Compulsive Theft & Spending in The News! January/February 2010:January 1–Mr. Shulman had an article in the Jack Hayes, International Loss Preventionquarterly newsletter. See http://www.hayesinternational.com/srvcs_prdcts.htmlJanuary 11–Mr. Shulman was interviewed on hoarding by Boston-based Karen Kenney, a professional organizer, on her radio/Internet show. See http://www.theorganizingcheerleader.comJanuary 12–Mr. Shulman was featured in an article about shoplifting in The Kansas City Star.January 15–Mr. Shulman was featured in an online article on compulsive shopping/spending in the San Francisco-based XPress Magazine. See http://www.xpress.sfsu.eduJanuary 19–Mr. Shulman was interviewed on an Internet radio station devoted to parenting issues. See http://www.parentcoachsusan.com / http://www.AttendThisEvent.com/?eventid=10140132January 21–Mr. Shulman was interviewed about compulsive shopping/spending in The AtlantaJournal Constitution.Mr. Shulman is assisting the Baton Rouge, Louisiana court system a court-ordered three hour facilitated educational program for retail fraud offenders. The program is based on material fromhis book “Something for Nothing: Shoplifting Addiction and Recovery” (2003).Beyond February…Mr. Shulman is to be featured in an article on shoplifting addiction and youth in the April 2010 editionof Seventeen Magazine.Mr. Shulman to be featured on self-publishing and creating a counseling practice/businessat http://www.makeitdetroit.comMr. Shulman submitted a chapter on employee theft for a U.K. book entitled “Risky Business” tobe released in early 2010.Mr. Shulman created an online continuing education course on compulsive shopping andspending called “Bought Out and $pent!” based on his book and Power Point presentation.The course is offered through The American Psychotherapy Association and is available for purchaseby APA members and non-members and CEs are available.See http://www.americanpsychotherapy.com/Mr. Shulman created an online education course called “Creating an Honest and Theft-Free Workplace” based on his book and Power Point presentation through 360 Training Services.CEs are available. See www.360training.comMr. Shulman is assisting with a CNN TV news story about compulsive shopping/spending intoday’s economy.
Mr. Shulman will be featured in a segment on shoplifting addiction in the MSNBC series “Theft in America” to air in late 2009/early 2010.Mr. Shulman is consulting on the development of a major motion picture tentatively called “The Rush” in which the lead character is addicted to shoplifting and stealing.
Mr. Shulman continues to assist the Kingman, Arizona court system with his court-ordered home-study program for retail fraud offenders. The program is based on material from his book “Something forNothing: Shoplifting Addiction and Recovery” (2003).Mr. Shulman is consulting with an author who is writing a novel about two kleptomaniacs who fall inlove with each other.
Contact The Shulman Center
Terrence ShulmanP.O. Box 250008Franklin, Michigan 48025
E-mail:terrenceshulman@theshulmancenter.com
Call (248) 358-8508 for free consulation!
Related sites by Terrence Shulman:www.theshulmancenter.comwww.kleptomaniacsanonymous.comwww.shoppingaddictions.orgwww.shopliftingaddictions.comwww.terrenceshulman.com www.shopaholicsanonymous.orgwww.employeetheftsolutions.comwww.somethingfornothingbook.comwww.bitingthehandthatfeeds.comwww.boughtoutandspent.comBooks:Something For NothingBiting The Hand That FeedsBought Out and $pent
Products for Purchase–ON SALE through 2009!
Mr. Shulman’s three books “Something for Nothing: Shoplifting Addiction & Recovery” and “Biting The Hand That Feeds: The Employee Theft Epidemic… New Perspectives, New Solutions,” and “Bought Out and $pent! Recovery from Compulsive $hopping and $pending” are availabe for $25.00 each (includes shipping/handling).
Second International Conference on Compulsive Theft & Spending 2 DVD set (6 Hours). Recorded 9/08. $100.00.Click here to purchaseE-mail Mr. Shulman:terrenceshulman@theshulmancenter.com
orCall (248) 358-8508