Celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson was recently arrested after reportedly stealing cheese and wine from a Tesco store in London. The Ready Steady Cook star didn’t pay for the items at the self-service checkouts five times in 16 days.
In the past also celebrities like Winona Ryder, Caroline Giuliani and Lindsay Lohan were convicted for shoplifting. So why do people end up stealing things they can more than easily afford?
“Thrill. High. A sense of power,” replies Dr Rajat Mitra.
Experts say that when the rich and famous and those who are not cash-strapped steal, it is obviously not about genuinely needing the item that is stolen. It is about seizing the opportunity to momentarily exercise control and feel powerful.
“Risk-taking gives a sense of high to such people. Manipulating the system and the idea of getting away with it makes them feel powerful. The more the risk, the better they feel. The bigger the system, the greater the satisfaction. These people don’t get the same high in an abundance of things like relationships or life in general,” explains Dr Mitra.
Kishore Kumar, owner of Rhythm and Blues, a music shop, says that cases of shoplifting rise during festive period and winters.
He says, “These are not professional thieves. They act normal and want to see everything on display. And once the attendant is slightly distracted, they quietly slip some items off under their shawl or jacket. It amounts to at least five per cent business loss to us every month,” he says, adding that they are helpless once the customer is out.
One former shoplifter, on the condition of anonymity, told us, “It’s the thrill of doing something one isn’t supposed to and getting away with it, that is addictive. Once during a sale I purchased a few dresses on discount and while leaving the store I quietly slipped in a few jewellery pieces in my bag.
Surprisingly the CCTVs failed to catch it and I walked out scot free.” Sometimes people who shoplift tend to do so because they feel wronged in some way.
“There is some connection between the need and deprivation on a deeper level and this abnormal behaviour. People take to such habits because they feel deprived emotionally. While some eat, drink too much or start doing drugs, others do things like stealing, secretly spoiling public property etc to make up for the loss or wrong done to them,” says Dr Sanjeev Mehrotra.
Where to head for Baajaa Gaajaa
Renowned classical vocalist Shubha Mudgal is back with the fourth edition of her annual music festival “Baajaa Gaajaa”.
The three-day fest showcasing the richness of Indian music with 40 performances, concerts and acts will commence from February 10 in Pune.
The annual music festival will also introduce a conclave that will address various issues plaguing the music industry.
There will be day-long discussions on various themes relating to Indian music, including the challenges and opportunities that are presented by digital technology and will be inaugurated by writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar.
Who will be visiting the Bachchan family
American TV mogul Oprah Winfrey, who will be visiting India soon, has expressed her desire to meet Bollywood star couple Abhishek and Aishwarya Bachchan who have been guests on her talk show. She is also keen on meeting Beti B.
YES! I am coming to India next month for 1st time as part of NEXT CHAPTER!. Too much for a tweet but let’s hook up in Jaipur or Mumbai, Winfrey wrote on Twitter.
Oprah will be travelling to India to participate in the Jaipur Literary Festival and shoot with spiritual guru Deepak Chopra for her latest chat show, Next Chapter.
When does the Year of the Dragon start
Chinese New Year (also called the Lunar New Year) occurs in the early months of our calendar year, typically January or February and this year falls on January 23. In 2012, the Dragon is welcomed back after the 2011 Year of the Rabbit. The Year of the Dragon will be marked by excitement, unpredictability, exhilaration and intensity.
What all you can do with television
TV manufacturers are presenting a range of sets that respond to speech. LG Electronics is set to sell a remote with its high-end flat-panel TVs that contains a microphone. You’ll be able to speak into the microphone to enter text on the TV for Twitter updates and Web searches. You won’t be able to change the channel or control the volume by yelling at the TV.
