My retired uncle have been caught thrice for shoplifting in 2 years but since he is an elder, the police decided to just let him go with a warning.
On his third time he was arrested, he called my dad to bail him out instead. His family is sick of him repeating the mistake is had clearly state they won’t bail him for a third time. And they didn’t show up at all even after my dad called them. My dad made him promise not to shoplift again or he also won’t bail him out.
Fast forward, a year, nothing happened and we thought he is finally over the bad habit. But we are so wrong, the other day, we went out with my uncle and cousin for dinner. Before dinner, we did some grocery shopping when I saw he had hid a bar of soap in his pocket. I went over and gently remind him that there are cameras around and that someone was caught shoplifting a week ago (I made it up). I also make it clear that he can get anything and I’ll pay, since it a value shop.
I then walked away and do my own shopping. When we’re paying, I realized he didn’t have the soap in his basket. I assumed that he had put it back. But I was surprised when I saw him sneaked the bar of soap into his bag after we walked out of the shop.
When we’re done with dinner, I managed to find a time and speak with him, one on one. I told him I saw the bar of soap which he didn’t pay for. It’s not on the receipt. He admitted to ‘accidentally dropped’ it in his pocket which I told him that’s impossible. I reminded him that if he continues, the police will eventually charge him one day, it’ll be his 4th times already. He calimed that the police told him that they hate merchants who make a report over small things like these (because he usually steal small and cheap items like candies, soap, spoons, pens.. which can easily go into his pocket), so they won’t charge him. I don’t feel he wants to stop!
I know it might be a psychology thingy but is there a way to help him stop? What happen if no one bails him out? What is the punishment for repeated shoplifting?