Caught my 5 yr. old son stealing today.

[RachaelRol]

We had a similar situation with DS4. I was at the checkout and he asked for a push pop lolipop. I told him no since he had already picked a junkie snack during the trip. DH meets us at register and asked DS what did he have in his pocket. DH pulls push pop out od DS pocket.

I hit DS on the hand about 3 times, (not real hard), scolded him and made him put it back. DH them took DS to a bench while I paid. In the car we explained what he did was wrong, etc. He was then punished for 3 hours. No toys or TV.

If it had made it out of the store I would have made him bring it back. It has not happened again and I don't worry about it.

 

[southernbella]

You did the right thing. When I was around his age I stole the neighbor's cat . I hid the little kitty in the basement. My mom found it and promptly marched me and the cat to the neighbor's house to return it. Then I had to apologize. I remember it very clearly. It was a lesson well learned!!!!

 

[Princess4Eeyore]

I think you handled it great - good way to learn that he made a mistake

 

[Froggyswife]

Been there done that got the t-shirt. You did good! DD did the same thing at age 4. It was a lesson she never forgot to this day. She is also the most honest person you will ever meet. I really don't think that a scolding would have the same effect as making them take it back to the store and telling the storekeeper that they stole it.

DD had already opened her candy so I paid for it and ate it on the way home.

 

[DISUNC]

.... I looked back and saw that one of the boys had snuck a package of candy out of the store.

Would you have gotten back out of the car?

You did the right thing!

I just gotta know...what kind of candy it was????

 

[minkydog]

Yup, and i have. It's never to early--or too late! I caught my 17yo son shoplifting. Not only did we call the store, we made sure that nothing fun happened to him until he made his apologies. DH marched him up there, made him speak to the manager, who threatened to call police if DS ever showed his face in there again, and DS returned the item. I don't know if it worked, but I never caught him again and it was hugely embarrassing for him(duh!)

You did the right thing, OP. Sometimes being a parent is inconvenient. I'll bet this makes a big impression on your son and the other sibs.

 

[JoyG]

You did the right thing!

I just gotta know...what kind of candy it was????

I was too angry to get a close look at it!

All I remember was it was in a large blue package.

 

[Tinijocaro]

When ds 10 was in Kindergarten, he came home twice with things from the class prize box. I checked with the teacher and only one of them he had earned. Two days before Christmas, he did it again so I called the teacher to let her know- she sent him to the principal's office. I cried when she told me she was going to do it, but I knew it was the right thing. Haven't had a problem since then.

 

[phorsenuf]

Many many years ago when my DS14 was about 3 or so we had gone shopping. At the time we lived waaaaaaay out in the boonies and I had to drive about 45 minutes to do any shopping (boy did that stink!).
Anyways there was a book with a cow puppet he really wanted but I said no. He had it while we were in the store but when it was time to check out it was gone so I figured he put it on a shelf somewhere.
After we got home I was unpacking everything (it was back to school shopping with the 4 boys) and he grabs one of the boys lunchbox opens it up and sure enough the little bugger hid it in the lunchbox! Of course I was just dying laughing inside that he actually did that but on the outside I was the "mean mom". I didn't take him back to the store because frankly it was just too darn far! I know he was punished though!

Funny thing is he still has that darn cow puppet and remembers exactly how he got it!

 

[Cool-Beans]

Would you have gotten back out of the car?

Yes, I would. I'd do exactly as you did.

 

[noodleknitter]

I think anyone who has raised a kid or two has been there! Good job teaching a hard lesson!