People all over the United States commit crimes. Shoplifting is the most widespread, it happens every day and forces stores to pay hundreds of millions every year. There is no typical shoplifter: people who shoplift can be of any age, race, gender, and social and economic background. Most people wonder why people commit crimes like shoplifting. Well, some do it because of finances, the most obvious of these reasons being that the person needs or wants something that they simply don't have the money for. This is the case for teenagers trying to keep up with trends and their peers. Sometimes people steal to meet their basic needs of food and clothing or to provide gifts for their children. Pressure Younger children and adolescents may be pressured by friends and peers to steal items in order to gain acceptance from certain groups or people. They tell you that if you want to be liked and fit in they have to steal things. Among young people who have stolen, 33% say it is difficult to stop. About 25% of shoplifters are children. Among adult shoplifters, 55% say they started as teenagers (Buy Me a Cake: Why People Shoplift). There are also emotional problems; people who struggle with depression or anger issues may shoplift. Also people do it to get attention, when there are problems at home a child or teenager is left out, they probably steal to get attention from someone or something. Very young children sometimes take things they want without understanding that things cost money and that it is wrong to take something without paying for it. Survival is one of the main reasons why people shoplift/steal. If you are a single parent and may have no money but you and your children are hungry, is it wrong to steal them or starve them? Most parents put the... center of the paper... time without getting caught up, their time is waiting for them. When they steal they don't realize how everyone, including them, will be affected by the decision. If you've shoplifted before, think about how you would feel if someone stole your things. Works Cited "Shoplifting". Findlaw. 2014. Thomson Reuters. February 17, 2014. http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-charges/shoplifting.html Peter Berlin. “Why shoplifters steal.” STANCOM, Inc. 1995. STANCOM, Inc. February 19, 2014.http:www.mindspring.com/~stancom/shop.html.“Shoplifters.” Pittsburgh Children's Hospital. 1995-2014. Pittsburgh Children's Hospital. February 19, 2014. http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jps?dn=chp&lic=48&ps_207&cat_id-20439&articleset=20496.“Kleptomania.” Wikipedia.org. 2014. Wikipedia Foundation Inc., February 21, 2014. http://en.widipedia.org/wiki/kleptomania.