Well? Here goes. I have strong suspicion that one of my students is a Kleptomaniac and a pathological liar. Also, he may have been the thief who stole the Samsung Mythic and I-touch from my son's locker on May 7, 2010. Here's the activity that all my students were so cooperatively doing: We read a story, in which a necklace is the object of desire, value and then turmoil for the main character. My students were going to see how they too, were very much like the main character. As my students were taking notes, a jewelry box of 10 various pieces circulated. They were to each decide which piece held the most value and why, and write down in their notes, those details. I continued about the author, and worked on a few points on the story's structure. All went well, over 90 students did as I asked, and then two items in the box disappeared. In all cases, I opened the box, and explained each piece, its relative value, either monetary or sentimental. As I back-tracked with the box, it came down to one student with a ring box in his hand, and a second ring in his gym shorts left pocket, amid change.
In front of the class, I was forced to ask him to return the "jewels" to the box. In front of his classmates, he said he thought he was to remove it, from the box. No one believed him, as if that was the case, by the time the box got to the 11th person in the room, it would have been empty! They all watched in disbelief as he pulled one ring from his gym shorts pocket. My reaction was " $5.99 at Walmart." Then I shook my head in disbelief. How disappointing.
Last week, the same student came back to my desk, offering to "help" me with whatever I needed. I thanked him and told him I didn't have any jobs at the moment. Now, I realize that this is part of the MO, to offer help, scope out what he can see, offer his service, build a sense of trust, and hope that he can find items that are of his fancy. His name goes to our SAP - Student Assistance Team, he needs help.
In my years of experience, I have seen this behavior out of three boys, who were thieves. One, many years ago, broke into a classroom and stole a computer, over Christmas break. About three weeks prior, he came back behind my desk and sat at the window sill that he would later break to get into the room.
Last year, a known community thief, also a boy, "did a stake-out" in my classroom, again, it was interesting to watch him, looking around, as if to see where the "valuables" were hidden. I sent him to his next class. In my case, there isn't anything valuable sitting on my desk; unless one wants to steal a book. Have at it! Also interesting, all of these have been boys, boys with low self esteem, loser types, with few friends, and broken or dis-functional families.
I have seen this condition develop over my lifetime with a family member, and the condition of Kleptomania and Pathological lying to support it, doesn't go away. My cousin served jail time for illegal disposition of funds, illegal electronic transfer, and was charged following an FBI investigation with 11 federal indictments. He is not cured. All along in his life, small thievery was ignored, tolerated, and it continued. He lost a job, a car, relationships, and eventually ended up in jail. To this day, at 50 years old, he is not cured. I suspect that he will go to any length to steal, or take what he views as valuable, and at any cost. A few years ago, I believe that he may have gone as far as attempted murder on one of his victims. Our local magistrate has reminded us, that the only way to "catch" this thief, with a 40 year record, is by catching him on camera, through a set up. Oh my.
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