What?? Shoplifting kid

[shoiji]

Was at CVS the other day. Some of the workers at CVS stopped a girl from leaving. They told her she could not leave because she had taken some things and she needed to empty her bag. Which she did. She had a huge bottle of sports drink and some other huge thing. Mind you, she was laughing and saying I don't believe this. Apparently she was there with someone else that they were trying to find. I think this is an on going problem at this store. A High School is near by and there is a sign say only x amount at a time in the store.

And yes the police were called in.

All I could think of was the girls behavior did not seem like she regretted being caught. More like this is wasting my time.

If that had been me at that age I would have been in tears and fearing the worst not from the police but my parents. (No they were not physically abusive, but the fear of god was placed on my shoulders to not do stuff like that.)

I have just noticed more and more things that kids are doing that in my generation we would have said if I did that my parents would have done this.

Has anyone else noticed this. I do not mean to say all kids and young adults are like this. Because I know that is not true. Just seems like more think they can get away with it.

What are your thoughts?

[Nana2two]

I use to work for walgreens and i a situation like that ,pair of girls age 10 and 11. Shoplifting got them both. 1 was crying so hard and begging not tell her mother. The other was saying its no big deal I aint going to get into trouble. Police were called the one Troubled one had stuff stuck in her underwear between her legs. It was makeup,jewelry,perfume,candy. It was obvious how each parents raised these girls.

[Libby]

I've noticed it more and more as well. Today's younger generation just doesn't care, doesn't fear nor feel they will be held accountable and punishable by the law and its enforcers. They think its all a joke and cool to do this stuff. But then again with role models such as 'Britney I totally advertise that I go pantyless Spears' and 'I'm an out of control party gal Lindsay Lohan' and 'I'm invincible Paris Hilton' who can blame them? Its all they ever see in the media - they are a product of their environment. This is what they perceive to be 'cool'.

It's almost as if they feel they have a sense of entitlement to everything and then some w/o having to learn the lessons and consequences of the almighty dollar.

I'm not bashing all parents, some could do better and some just can't do anymore. It's the kids that are resisting and not absorbing the good info. They'd rather absorb the bad from/with their 'cool' friends.

Unfortunately, until these kids grow up and wise up....this is how it's going to be

[Inkstain82]

Kids these days, they have no morals. And their music is just noise. And they should get off my lawn.

Repeated for generations

[monkeywrangler71]

Nothing I said or did had any impact on my daughter's behaviour. She had "rights" and a nice group of hoodlum friends who constantly reminded her of them, and she knew that I had none.

[rudypoo98]

You think that's bad the very small town I live in we have alot of Amish that have bought farms around here.I saw an old Amish woman that was wearing a big cape looking coat stealing things at Dollar General,she must have pockets sown on the inside of it because she was sticking shampoo and things like that inside it.I then went to the 20 cent store which is where people donate clothes and things it's ran by the churches here in town.Everything in it sells for 20 cents,she came in there also and was stealing things in there.My daughter said she's seen more than one of the Amish guys stealing things at garage sales.I'm the kind of person I go in a store get what I want don't pay attention to other people I'm surprised I even noticed what she was doing.

[frugalfranny]

The lack of caring goes beyond lack of caring for themselves, it seems to expand to anything.....other people, possessions, what will happen, their parents, etc.

The TOTAL lack of manners is what I see that is disturbing. When I am shown or see a kid show manners I make SURE that I compliment not only the parent but the child too.

[lottaLove]

Where I grew up, there were two types of kids who would do this kind of thing. The kind who had everything in the world, money, toys, cds, movies, everything but the attention of their parents. Crazy how many rich kids got caught shoplifting when they had more than enough money to buy what they were stealing.
The other type were the ones who really didn't have any money, but for whatever reason felt they had an image to uphold. They would steal designer jeans, makeup, cheap jewelery, things their parents couldn't afford, but they still felt they needed in order to fit in with the 'cool' kids.
I'm sure not all kids fall into these categories, but it was something strange to observe.
I wonder if nowadays girls shoplift more than boys, or if it is pretty even. I hope I can teach my kids not to value posessions so much they feel the need to steal them either for wants or thrills. It seems telling kids something is 'wrong' just isn't effective anymore.

[McD]

The lack of caring goes beyond lack of caring for themselves, it seems to expand to anything.....other people, possessions, what will happen, their parents, etc.

The TOTAL lack of manners is what I see that is disturbing. When I am shown or see a kid show manners I make SURE that I compliment not only the parent but the child too.

The lack of caring doesnt just pertain to teenagers or kids though. I think it's more society as a whole tends to be on 'me first me first, me me me, mine mine mine" mentality.

Heck, Wesley and I just about got knocked over by an 80 + year old man who was ramming his way to the front of a line for a sample of a donut hole. My now-good-buddy Ben C, who was the little old fella handing out the donut holes, had that mean old turd removed from the store.

And kids can be raised totally right and still do bad things. My brothers and I were all raised exactly the same way--same rules, same values, everything. I've never been arrested, done drugs, smoked, etc. and neither have either of my younger brothers. My older brother has a rap sheet about a mile long with various charges, such as assault, about 5 dui's, etc. I know it really hurts my parents to hear comments about how he must have been raised--especially since 3 of the 4 of us have never done anything of that nature.

ETA: As the momma of a very polite little fella (seriously the kid's been saying 'scuse me in proper context since he was 18 months old), I have to say I do appreciate the people like you who take the time to compliment his manners. It makes his little chest puff up with pride when he gets a compliment like that and it always makes me so proud of him.

[Libby]

And kids can be raised totally right and still do bad things. My brothers and I were all raised exactly the same way--same rules, same values, everything. I've never been arrested, done drugs, smoked, etc. and neither have either of my younger brothers. My older brother has a rap sheet about a mile long with various charges, such as assault, about 5 dui's, etc. I know it really hurts my parents to hear comments about how he must have been raised--especially since 3 of the 4 of us have never done anything of that nature.

I don't think its the parenting or lack of. I think it has to do with the kids absorption of manners and whatever is being taught around them. Some kids just grow up with feelings of entitlement and choose not to do the right thing and hang with the wrong crowd.

I totally feel for your parents Mrs McD

[dcompton]

Some years ago my family was friendly with a woman who had an aquarium store. She had trouble with people shoplifting FISH. Women would come in with a big purse with a container of water, and when no one was watching, quickly net a fish out of the tank. Not exactly an impulse theft! I must not have a criminal mind. It would never even occur to me that I could steal fish.

[pollypurebred39]

Peoples attitudes have changed for sure. My son caught two teenage girls stealing and now the girls parents are suing the store!


How's that for morals!

[ruderring]

Well, coming from a mom who feels that I have done everything in my power to teach my children right I have one who has done things that I never would have done to my parents or grandparents and one who is just the opposite. Same deal for both. During my daughter's teen years (not so long ago) really is still a teen but out of our house she did some very nasty things to us and to others. She has gotten better because she has to fend for herself because we put our feet down and said no more. I would agree she still feels she is entitled to whatever she thinks we should pay for but no more. Sometimes I feel bad but tough love is what we felt we needed to do for the rest of our family to be sane. Now on the other hand I get lots of compliments about my son. He is very polite and friendly and people like him a lot. So go figure. Same parents and upbringing but totally different kids. Although he may change he is just getting into that age where things could start to be different. He is 14 but I really don't think he'll be to much of a problem. So, yes children can be raised in the very same way and be just who they were made to be. I have asked my mom several times what I have done to make my daughter turn out the way she is and all she can say is you haven't done anything wrong it's just who she feels she needs to be and maybe she'll change. I hope so. Kids these days are totally different and so is society for that matter. Just wish things were different. Thanks for listening.

[littleplum]

Kids these days, they have no morals. And their music is just noise. And they should get off my lawn.

Repeated for generations

"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them."

--James Baldwin

[frugalwarrior2]

My DD went on a trip to the museum. She got mad because kids were stealing form the gift store. How stupid is that?? They are w/ 3 classes and they have to take the school bus home. DD got mad to be put in that position. She told the teacher covertly because she loves the museum.