Thief Psychology: Inside the Mind of a Thief

How do thieves think? Can their minds be understood, or are they simply monsters with little to no redeeming qualities? Some people believe that all criminals should be locked up and never allowed to see the light of day again, while others believe that even the worst criminals can still be rehabilitated into productive members of society if given the chance. If you want to understand how thieves think and why they steal, then you’ll want to read this article on thief psychology and discover how you can protect yourself against these ruthless predators.



What makes them decide to steal? To steal, someone has to have certain motivations for committing a crime. It's very common for thieves to commit crimes on impulse and to not plan their theft in advance. Impulse is one way people can explain why they committed such an illegal act and there are some other reasons that can lead someone into committing this crime as well. Once someone commits this crime, it becomes harder for them to stop because there are so many rationalizations that can occur after the event has taken place.

What do they take? Most thieves steal what they think will get them a lot of money in little time. A thief's biggest fear is getting caught, so they tend to go for valuable and fragile things. They don't like to invest too much effort or take any risks, so they generally go for easy targets. Another aspect of thief psychology is that most people that try to steal from someone or something are trying to steal from themselves- by stealing from others, they're trying to keep themselves out of debt, abuse alcohol less and avoid making big mistakes with their personal lives. Some people do believe it makes them feel better about themselves; one study found that 90% said it made them feel better about life if only for a little while after stealing something.

How do they get away with it? To steal something, all you need is two things: an opportunity and your plan. Opportunity is pretty easy to come by as most people are not as alert as they should be and don't take steps to prevent theft. The only thing left is a plan that can help you avoid getting caught. In this blog post, we'll focus on one aspect of that plan; identifying what makes theft so tempting for some people and how those same attributes might cause them to get caught if they aren't careful.

How can we avoid becoming a victim? Here are some things to keep in mind as you walk, shop, and travel. Always keep your personal items tucked away where they're not easy to grab - especially things like wallets and purses. Don't take shortcuts through dark alleys or parking lots if possible. Let someone know where you're going and when you'll be back. As tempting as it may be, don't stop to chat with others on the street or open your car door until it's fully parked in a parking spot.