A video of a handbag theft in South-Africa was shared on social media recently.
The method used to carry out the theft has sparked global outrage.
The video shows a mother with her three children (we assume they’re her children). The family work as a team with the eldest of child steal the woman’s handbag from underneath her seat.
- An ex shoplifter told Underworld:
I have friends that still shoplift and when I showed them this video they said they felt disgusted, even though they are committing theft themselves. I believe the mother should definitely be prosecuted but the child should also as we need to teach the kids of today that committing these crimes is wrong. There was also two little ones with them so their young brains will start to think that stealing is ok, but the reality is that it will lead them into a deep pool of shoplifting that once they are in, they will struggle to get out of.
However, Dr. George Harris, a clinical psychologist with deep experience working with young offenders said:
“Punishment doesn’t work to change people’s behaviour, it’s like seeing a police car on the motorway when you’re doing 80. You’ll slow down until it’s gone then speed back up again. We need to understand the whole person in order to make real change in offending behaviour.”
