Let’s  admit  it – there  resides a  thief in  all  of  us  at some stage  of  life. I’m not talking about confirmed criminals. This is  about well to do, law abiding, socially responsible adults for whom the words hook, lift and pinch may mean something else. 

Science has classified theft offenders as typical, atypical or mixed type. Kleptomaniacs are  said to be  different as  they have an involuntary compulsion to steal because of  some deep seated psychological  problem.

Typical garden thieves are up at dawn and generally follow a routine.  A rose or two from the park, hibiscus from the school, a handful of  jasmine from a neighbour’s house  etc. They go about this as a matter of fact with no remorse.

If confronted, they will give you a   resigned smile saying –  “It’s for God.” My retort that God may not  appreciate stolen  flowers falls on  deaf ears. They will continue the  routine, but will ensure that you do  not see them !
Shoplifting is said to be an atypical offence. When famous Hollywood  stars with their millions have  done it, what prevents the lesser  mortals ? Most of  them  don’t  enter  a shop with  the intention of stealing, but  never fail to do so whenever  an opportunity comes by. 

One success leads to another and it becomes addictive. The items they  steal may be cheap, insignificant or    expensive stuff. Not  that  they want  them badly  or cant afford them. Most  of them  simply do it to experience the euphoria of “not being caught”.

There exists a gamut of them –  from pinched soaps and shampoos  from  hotel rooms  to  the  worst  kind – “opportunistic thefts” like public looting. I happened to witness one  near Mandya.

An over laden truck carrying  sugarcane was moving slowly on a  bad stretch of road with many cars  following. Suddenly the truck overturned and the cane fell across the  road. The occupants of the cars  rushed  outside and made a grab for  as much cane their cars could  hold!  Nobody even  bothered to find out  what happened to the people in the  truck. At  such times, it looks like  mankind’s primeval instincts as a   hunter- gatherer rolls the evolution  clock back.