Hot Topics 1

...........................................,
. . .
addicted to shoplifting. Mason says that" there is no "average shoplifter.
"There are shoplifting grandmothers, doctors, teachers, and even movie
stars. Last year, actress Winona Ryder was caught shoplifting:' In the
same way, shoplifters might steal just about any kind of merchandise. ­
Clothing, DVDs, and jewelry are at risk, but large items like skis and
stereo equipment are also in danger. Store-owner groups say that more
than $15 billion worth of merchandise walks out of store doors 'every
year. And that's pricey news for customers since decreases in store profits
mean increases in prices. According to one store-owner group, between
three and five percent of the price of an item pays for security and
stolen merchandise.
Five years ago,Terry Schulman formed CASA (Cleptomaniacs and
Shoplifters Anonymous). He says his own addiction became so bad that
he stole something every day. "The addictive-compulsive shoplifter, like
myself and most of the people who come to the grou p, shoplift as a
way to cope with life;' Schulman says. CASA is a support group. Some
people come because they have to-a judge has told them that they
must. However, most people come because they want to get better.
Many people at a recent CASA meeting were worried about the
holidays. They said that the stress of the holidays and the need to shop
increased the chance that they might steal.
As they left, Schulman smiled and said to them, "Keep coming
back-tha~'s . the key phrase. Just keep corning back,"
Vocabulary Work
Guess Meaning from Context
1. Find related words in the reading.
stress
crowds
increase
pricey
stolen
Chapter 6
.~~-------