The Globe and Mail
May 13, 1999

Shoplifting linked to personal stress


By Jen Ross
"When high-profile people shoplift, it's more glaring. You think 'why would they do it?' But it's for the same reasons that drive other honest people," said Dr. Will Cupchik.
"In response to experiencing an unfair, personally meaningful loss, they will attempt to cause losses to others by shoplifting."
--Dr. Will Cupchik
The act is also often a cry for help, said Gillian Crawford, co-ordinator of a counselling program for shoplifters and people who commit fraud run by the Elizabeth Fry Society of Toronto.

Psychologists and women's advocates say high-profile people are driven to steal by the same reasons as other atypical shoplifters -- personal stress.

"When high-profile people shoplift, it's more glaring. You think 'why would they do it?' But it's for the same reasons that drive other honest people," said Dr. Will Cupchik, a psychologist who has spent more than 20 years researching shoplifting behaviour at the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry.

In the past few weeks, a couple of people in the spotlight have had to deal with allegations of shoplifting.

Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman's wife, Marilyn, was arrested but not charged after she allegedly shoplifted a pair of pants from an Eaton's store April 19.

On April 30, Lorraine Page, head of Quebec's biggest teachers union, was found guilty of stealing a $50 pair of leather gloves. This week, Ms. Page stepped down from her post as president with the Centrale de l'enseignement du Quebec. She maintains her innocence and plans to appeal her conviction.

Dr. Cupchik explains that in most cases, respectable people who shoplift are dealing with the stress of loss.

"In response to experiencing an unfair, personally meaningful loss, they will attempt to cause losses to others by shoplifting," he said.

"In other cases, if someone has been hurt, they may shoplift to cause embarrassment to the person who hurt them."

The act is also often a cry for help, said Gillian Crawford, co-ordinator of a counselling program for shoplifters and people who commit fraud run by the Elizabeth Fry Society of Toronto. The society runs the only therapeutic support group for female shoplifters in the province.

"Many women shoplift as a coping mechanism for stresses in their lives," she said. "For some, shoplifting involves taking some control back."

Shoplifting charges are more common among women than men, but Ms. Crawford said there are no universal determinants of what drives them to do it.

"It can hit every age, every class, every race. For some women, it's poverty-related, but for some it's because of daily stresses, for some it's related to big changes like immigrating to a new country."

Ms. Crawford said women in the spotlight are not immune to shoplifting and are just as likely as others to do so when under a lot of pressure.