Ariana Grande’s iconic lyrics, “I see it. I like it. I want it. I got it.” are taken to a new level through teenage anger, angst, and drama. By definition, kleptomaniacs are those with “an impulse control disorder that results in an irresistible urge to steal.” The impluse’s biggest market audience is 18-year old girls.
I received the opportunity to speak with this target demographic of rather experienced stealers to gather insight into why they do what they do. The items in question ranged anywhere from menial chocolate bars to makeup to exorbitant water bottles. Though these items span a wide range, there seems to be a “code” that applies to every steal.
First, confidence is key. Act like it’s yours and it will be. Casually slipping items into pockets are a thing of the past. Walking straight out with your items held up high will get you the furthest.
Secondly, chains are free reign, but taking from a local business just makes you a shitty person.
Third, solo missions have higher success rates. A family shopping trip is definitely not the ideal environment.
Finally, don’t get caught.
This all sounds easy enough but successfully stealing is truly a masterpiece where every artist perfects their technique to the ‘T’ and their muses differentiate with every occasion. The most popular reasoning was based on the question of, “Why would I pay for this?” and “adrenaline rush” was a close second.
The main reasoning lies its roots in Rule No. 2— chains are free reign. As the hatred against fast fashion and capitalism rises dramatically in younger generations, the almost “need” to steal increases as well.
These teenage kleptos are fueled by the desire to “fight the system”, where personal interest is actually minimized. This vigilante-esque justification warps the view of how much something “should” cost and the true value of materialistic goods.
This is not to say that there aren’t those who steal for personal gain or because they simply don’t want to pay for an item, but these specific confessions reveal an intricate, initially unseen layer.
Within the socially sinned concept of stealing lies almost good intentions. Though stealing lipstick from Sephora is not going to slay the capitalist-based monsters that these teenage kleptomaniacs dream of, their underlying objective offers a new light into what society considers as acceptable.
HerCampus at Berkeley does not condone stealing in any manner. This article is written with the intent to review and culminate information based on anonymous confessions.