The Better Business Bureau estimates that businesses lose $16 billion each year to shoplifting. In addition, each family in the United States spends $300 per year to subsidize this loss to businesses.

In a joint project with Y-Press, girls at the Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility interviewed four other students there to better understand why people shoplift. In the following interview, Kimberly, 15, Connie, 18, Angie, 16, and Jennifer, 16, share their personal experiences with this costly problem.

The decision to shoplift

CONNIE: I made the choice to steal because I decided just to impress my friends at the time. I just wanted to grab a bunch of stuff and say, "Look what I got for free.''

When I was younger, I was more scared, so I only took littler things. But by the time I got older, I guess some would say I got wiser. . . . I was more anxious.

ANGIE: When I first stole, I made a choice. Me and my friends would go into a store, and we would all come out and see who stole the most or biggest of what.

When I first started stealing, it would just be little things like candy. . . .

But after a while, I'd walk in a store and just act normal and walk out with whatever I wanted and nobody would really notice. . . . It's like you're scheming to get by with something and you just get a rush.

KIMBERLY: At first I was scared, and then after I stole more often, it became easier for me. The first thing I stole was makeup and the last thing I stole was a car.

I think people shoplift because they . . . see people with stuff they want, and they don't want to go buy it.

JENNIFER: At first I was scared. After we walked out, I wasn't worried about it no more. (It's) just a feeling that you don't really get too often unless you're stealing. I think that people shoplift because they think they can get away with it.

I have never stole from any of my friends or family.

Negative influences

CONNIE: My mom first influenced me when I saw her just take little things that she really wanted. And she knew she could get away with it. I let her influence me, I guess.

My brother shoplifts all the time.

ANGIE: My brother stole a lot of things when he was younger. And that's kind of what got me started shoplifting.

I think I influenced me, 'cause I would see something and I'd want it. Why pay for it when I could save money for something that I can't steal?

KIMBERLY: My best friend influenced me to steal (when I was younger).

The only person in my family that I know (who stole) is my uncle, and he's locked up in prison for it.

JENNIFER: I'd have to say that my best friend is the one who influenced me, 'cause she was the one that I was with. I stole because I got mixed up in the wrong crowd at the wrong time and was easily misled.

My brothers stole a lot when I was younger, but they don't really anymore.

They really, really had no effect on me because I was so young, I didn't really realize what was going on.

No fear

CONNIE: Since I was working at a store, I knew basically where all the cameras and everything was and it didn't really affect me. I was just like, "Whatever, it's just a sign. They won't do nothing.'' I knew when (the management) turned the cameras off or when they kept them on, when security's on or off (duty). I (had) an advantage.

ANGIE: When I see those signs, I just laugh at them. I think it's funny because half the stores don't even have cameras. They just do that to make you think they do.

JENNIFER: In a way (the cameras) do a good job, because when I first saw those, I was always scared. Once I started, I'd just go for it. I would know where everything was and I wouldn't get scared anymore.

KIMBERLY: (Cameras) scared me at first. But after a while, after I stole the stuff, it didn't scare me anymore 'cause I knew I would get away with it.

Consequences

CONNIE: When I was caught shoplifting, I was petrified. I felt so bad.

I was put on informal probation. I think it was fair, but I think it should have been stricter. I should have learned my lesson faster, instead of leading into bigger and better things and getting myself in more trouble.

ANGIE: The first time I got caught shoplifting, I was mad because they wouldn't let me go. I was also mad because they didn't catch me with only their stuff.

They caught me with other stores' stuff. . . . They were gonna call and tell them all. I was mad and I was scared because I was gonna get kicked out of every store I had ever been to.

I spent two days in juvenile and nothing else ever happened.

KIMBERLY: I was more mad at myself because I could have prevented myself from stealing.

The first time I got caught stealing, I was 9 years old and they took me to the Guardian Home and I was there for two weeks.

JENNIFER: After the first time I got caught, I just quit -- I was real scared. I started crying 'cause I was so scared. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what was gonna happen.

They never did anything about it. They filled out a report and I never had to go to court. They just dropped all charges.

If I were a shop owner

CONNIE: If I owned a business and caught someone shoplifting, I would pull that person aside and explain to them where I've been and that it's not necessary to steal.

I don't like it when people steal from me, 'cause when I steal from (my friends), it's little things they probably have lots of. If I steal from a store, I know that they have more of the stuff and it's not really a big deal.

If someone works hard for a thing, I don't think it's right to steal from them.

ANGIE: If I owned a business and I caught someone shoplifting, I'd have to call the cops on them. I know that every time I got off shoplifting, and they never called the cops, I just did it again. I thought nothing's ever gonna happen.

If someone stole from me, I would try to get them back. People stole money from me and I was pretty much never the friend I was with them before.

JENNIFER: If I ever caught someone shoplifting from my business or store, I would have to call the cops. You're never gonna learn from your mistakes unless you are actually punished for it. I would also sit down and explain to them the problem with shoplifting and why they shouldn't do it.

If someone stole from me, I would be real mad. I mean, I work hard for everything I got, and I wouldn't want anyone to take what I've earned my own way.