Shoplifting In The US: Is It A Felony?

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 22 July 2025 An Indian woman, reportedly called Alvani, was detained in Illinois, US, for allegedly stealing items worth over $1,300 (approximately Rs 1.11 lakh) from a Target store in May. Even as a video of the May incident went viral, the US Embassy in India issued a statement cautioning all visa holders that involvement in crimes such as assault, theft, or burglary in the host country could lead to visa revocation and future inadmissibility. Responding to a question on the shoplifting incident, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has urged all citizens travelling abroad to respect local laws and uphold the country's image, while confirming that over 1,500 Indians have been deported from the US this year. While kleptomania is a universal phenomenon, the ever-condescending western world tries to project it as a 'serious' behavioural aberration prevalent among the shoplifters from India, Africa and the third-world countries. But the fact is, many 'white' celebrities have also been caught shoplifting. The names of Lindsay Lohan, Wynona Ryder, Britney Spears, Antony Worrall Thompson, Richard Madeley, Lady Isobel Barnett, among others spring to mind. Old-timers are aware how Indian cricketer, late Sudhir Naik was harassed and humiliated for the alleged shoplifting during the disastrous tour to England in 1974. It's worth noting that Naik had gone shopping in between the matches and had even bought socks for himself and his teammates. When he presented the socks for billing, one pair had been missed out on by accident. The same was picked up by the scanner, and after the security called the authorities, Naik was charged with shoplifting. The former cricketer did try to explain that he had accidentally missed out on the sock and also stated that he had paid for everything else, and it was a mistake that the pair of socks was missed out on. The police did not think much of the explanation, and the Indian team management, hoping to let the matter go as soon as possible, advised Naik to plead guilty. However, the news of the same was leaked to a reporter to publish it soon after that, which led to embarrassment for the side. Though poor Sudhir Naik was unceremoniously sent back home, he always maintained that he never stole anything from the departmental store in the UK. Unfortunately, the alleged shoplifter’s act in the US is being used as a reason to criticise India itself. Jealousy is the most obvious reason. Every nation has shoplifters, but India’s rising prominence has made it a target. Just like transgressions by Americans anywhere naturally attract a lot more interest and opprobrium than those committed by citizens of less consequential nations. Indians must realise they will be in the crosshairs while abroad, just like Americans. But at the same time, if a survey conducted by the Centre for Retail Research in Nottingham, UK, is to be believed, Indians are the topmost shoplifters in the world. It is the collective innocuous acts of shoplifting that has been the driving force behind India topping the infamous list for the third time in a row. The Global Retail Theft Barometer survey for 2010 revealed that the Indian retail sector has a shrinkage rate—a reduction or loss in inventory due to shoplifting, theft and process failures—of 2.72 percent amounting to a loss of approximately 9,296 crore. Of this 47.3 percent (roughly 4,397 crore) was due to shoplifting and the rest due to the other mentioned reasons. All said and done, should an act of shoplifting be called a felony? Is it a crime of that enormity? Is it so horrendous? Certainly not. In a lighter vein, while shoplifting or kleptomania is certainly not worth-eulogising or emulating, the thrill of stealing small items is akin to kissing on the sly! Women have been found to be more into this 'disorder' than men. ' Women often steal hearts and objects in a clandestine manner,' maverick novelist Sasthi Brata aptly observed. So very true. The thrill of not getting caught while stealing is something that's indescribable to many (seasoned) kleptomaniacs. It gives them a kick and a mischievous sense of triumph. A team of American psychiatrists studied this phenomenon for years and concluded that a large percent of women felt like stealing something while shopping but only five to ten percent would actually steal. Kleptomania is often compared to a rather 'erudite' 'bad' habit of stealing books from the bookshops and also from libraries. There's a real-life anecdote related to it. Many years ago, a well-read, avuncular bookshop owner on College Street, Calcutta, saw a young man steal a book along with other books that he purchased. He was a regular customer. The stolen book was Russian great Maxim Gorky's famous novel ' Mother.' While making the bill, the kind-hearted owner smilingly told the young man, '' Please come after a week. I'll ask you questions on Gorky's book and if you fail to answer, you'll have to pay for the book." So heart-warming and affable insinuation that you were caught stealing a book! ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/current-affairs/shoplifting-us-felony/d/136245 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism