Theft

Other names for theft include: stealing, five finger discount, clepto, hustle, scam, fraud, rob, take, jacking, shoplift, burgle, jook, mugging, pickpocketing, shoplifting.

Can you think of any more?

Theft is taking something that isn’t yours, e.g. shoplifting or stealing cars.   

• The more valuable the thing you steal is, the more trouble you’ll be in.
• Theft is more serious if you plan it beforehand.
• Acting as a look out for someone who is stealing makes you part of the theft.
• You don’t have to steal something to be found guilty.
• If you leave a café or a taxi on purpose without paying, you can charged with theft.

Going equipped means carrying something in public that you could use to help you steal, e.g. a crowbar or screwdriver.

Hustling or ‘obtaining by deception’ is when you trick someone to get something dishonestly, e.g. using a credit card that doesn’t belong to you.

Burglary also counts as theft but is when you steal from a building, e.g. someone’s house or a school. 

Robbery is when you use/threaten to use force to steal. It’s more serious than theft and you can be guilty of robbery even if you’re just part of a group that robbed someone.

Handling stolen goods is when you keep, buy or sell something that’s been stolen, e.g. if someone offers you an iPod for £10, it’s probably stolen. 

If you’re guilty of theft, you could get up to 7 years in prison, depending on what type it is.

If you have information about theft, be fearless and let us know anonymously.

Shoplifting is a type of theft. It is when you steal items from a shop without paying for them.

Many shopping centers and stores hire security guards to prevent and control shop lifters. Stores often operate a zero tolerance policy. This means no matter what item is stolen from a shop they will report it to the police. 

We all do. When shops lose out on money they need to find a way to earn this back. One option is to increase the cost of the items in their store – meaning we have to pay for it when we next do our shopping

If you are caught by a security guard shoplifting you will almost certainty be banned from ever shopping at that store again! You may also be given a Civil Recovery Notice – this note is from the store and outlines how they plan to recover the money that they have lost through your actions.

People ages 16+ may also face a £80 fixed fine called a Fixed Penalty ticket.

If you have information about shoplifting, be fearless and let us know anonymously.