"Consumers are looking for a big bang for their buck," said Swonk, the economist at Mesirow Financial. "If it's stolen goods, they're going to get it at a better price than at the retailer. It's creating another market."

I am encouraged any time I see an article sounding the alarm about shoplifting or employee theft. This article makes sense on a basic level: when the economy hiccups, many people have less money to buy essentials. But what the article fails to do, in my opinion, is more broadly address the scope of shoplifting and employee theft; instead, it seems to reduce people who steal into two main camps: those who steal out of greed and those who steal out of economic need. This is inaccurate. If 1 out of 11 people shoplift (according to the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention) and if 75% of employees steal from work (according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce) it's safe to say that why people steal is more complex than we think.

First of all, I'd like to say that there's rarely an excuse for stealing. When times are tough, there's usually got to be other ways to make ends meet. Unfortunately, desperate times often bring out desperate behavior. We don't think our clearest under stress. That's not an excuse, it's just being realistic. We have to be careful to distinguish between "need to steal" and "perceived need to steal." It may be one thing to shoplift "life-saving medicine" or basic staple food; it's quite another to steal "discretionary" items which one has become accustomed to having but can no longer realistically afford. For many, keeping up with the Joneses is a full-time job!

But the biggest missing piece in this article is the total absence of mention that statistics and research show that most people shoplift or commit employee theft not out of economic need or greed but in response to life's stressors. In other words, "it's emotions, stupid!" Now, certainly a faltering economy brings up a multitude of strong emotions for many: fear, depression, anger, hopelessness, shock--just to name a few. It's an important distinction to make but is often missed: it's not the lack of money that makes someone steal--maybe not even the perceived lack of money--but, rather, it's the thoughts and feelings behind the circumstances which make certain people more vulnerable to "act out."

Further, there's no mention of how shoplifting, employee theft and stealing in general can become addictive responses to life's stressors (including financial) and that, again, an increase in theft behaviors may be more attributable to strong emotional responses and perceived lack of choices that a drop in income, an increase in bills, or the economy's overall health. Research shows that all addictions increase during tough economic times: drinking, drugging, gambling, eating, shopping, sex, TV, work, Internet--you name 'em.

The article also perpetuates the myth of the typical shoplifter when the Massachusetts sergeant states "the shoplifter of the past was mostly trying to fuel a drug habit." My best estimation is that only 10-20% of shoplifters are drug addicts who steal to support their habit. The same is true for employees who steal from work.

When the economy falters, a cascade of events happen: more stress, more illness, more divorce, more death, loss of home, loss of lifestyle, loss of security, loss of identity, resurfacing of painful past memories or loss, and the traumatic loss of a sense or basic protection and fairness in life. When an employee knows he or she is about to lose a job after years of faithful service--sure, loss of income is on one's mind, but even greater feelings of betrayal and loss of control may be the primary motivation for stealing. When the typical shoplifter steals a nice purse or a blouse or a CD or DVD, those aren't necessity items per se but often the shoplifter can feel "entitled" to shoplift in the face of life's losses and injustices.

Again, this is not to excuse stealing but, rather, to better and more accurately understand it. It's also important to understand why people steal so we might better prevent or treat it. We still rarely even use the word "treat" when dealing with theft. There are either "plain thieves" who, assumedly, deserve harsh punishment, or "the impoverished or financially strapped" who may garner some sympathy but then what? Obviously, if we have a stronger economy, more job security, better benefits, lower cost of goods, and a more tightly-woven safety net, there would be less need to steal--real or perceived--not just because of finances but because of emotions. We would feel more at ease, more connected, more supported. When we feel all alone, the law of the jungle reigns: everyone for himself.

It is important for each of us to remember if or when times are tough that there are always other ways to survive besides stealing. Sometimes, drastic measures are the only way out such as letting a home fall into foreclosure, going without health insurance, selling prized possessions, or greatly downscaling or lifestyles. We may also have to ask for help--despite our pride--from family, friends, governmental agencies, religious institutions, charities, or elsewhere. We may have to put on our thinking caps and find new and creative (and legal!) ways to earn income.

Do stores and employers have any role to play in all this besides cat and cop? Most reasonable persons could agree how short-sighted most corporations have been about overpaying their executives compared to their core staff or how nickel-and-diming employees out of raises, bonuses and benefit actually breeds resentment and theft. And what about the hypocrisy of the few at the top who skim and steal (The American Society of Employers estimates that 55% of employee theft is perpetrated my company owners, managers, and supervisors). It appears many stores treat the war on shoplifting like the war on drugs--and it's unwinnable. Rarely does a retailer or loss prevention worker wish to acknowledge that most shoplifting--any shoplifting--is other than plain thievery less they appear "soft on theft." Of course, most retailers and loss prevention personnel are focused on organized theft rings and most other theft is falling through the cracks.

When we get real about why people steal--aside from economic need and greed--we will see more progressive approaches, including treatment, to the growing problem of theft. For example, casinos acknowledge--to varying degrees--that a proportion of their clients are compulsive gamblers. Casinos post the Gamblers Anonymous hotline and chip in funds to assist with free counseling for those afflicted. Many casinos even have "self-exclusion" programs which allow gamblers to "ban themselves" by tagging their IDs if they try to re-enter. Could this be the future with retailers? Further, bartenders are trained to cut off problem drinkers. And in response to the growing problem of obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease, even many fast food restaurants stepped up to the plate and cut trans-fat use, eliminated "super-size" menu items, and increased "heart-smart" choices.

Things are not just black and white. Theft in America is rising for many complex and inter-related reasons. The sooner we take note, the quicker we can take actions that actually can help turn our economy around.