My last post on theft focused on the homeless and why i can understand why in some circumstances people feel forced to steal in order to survive. However the homeless do not account for the majority of theft in the United Kingdom.
Some people even make a career out of shoplifting - personally i find that disgusting.
Even celebrities have been caught stealing- Winona Rider and her now infamous shoplifting spree, and more recently Wesley Snipes who has been found guilty of tax evasion. Some may not see this as stealing but according to the law it is.
I think the reason for this may be that celebrities are so used to being given everything and told how wonderful they are that they believe everything is theirs for the taking. On the other hand it could also be that they are tired of being controlled by managers, publicists and minders that they want to rebel. Another example of this could be Britney Spear's dramatic head shaving.
In today's society we revel in reading about the luxury lifestyles of the rich and famous, so there could be a 'well if you have it then i want it' mentality when it comes to some people who steal. This could be particularly attributed to the youth of today. Designer clothing and the latest mobile phones are pretty much status symbols. I've heard many people simply say, "I do it for the buzz."
I don't think there is anything to be said for stealing. I have heard people argue that the manufacturers and retailers make huge profits anyway so it is OK to steal, but they only raise the prices to cover the theft and then the paying public picks up the bill.
After hearing more and more in the news that food prices are continuing to soar and that many families are already struggling with rising mortgage, fuel and utility bills (- which alone have gone up by a staggering 13% since last year) I do wonder if the levels of 'petty theft' will rise.
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