Hi,
Thank you for writing to me about this. It sounds like knowing that your friend is stealing things has put you in a difficult position.
It can be hard to understand why people do certain things. People can sometimes have many reasons for the way they behave, but it doesnt make it okay to break the law. It might be that your friend isnt even sure herself why shes doing this. Perhaps she feel bored, unhappy or angry about something, but isnt sure how to express those feelings.
Even though your friend is only stealing small things, its still breaking the law, so theres a possibility she could end up with a criminal record. Theres also a risk that being involved in fairly small crimes now might mean she gets tempted into doing more and more serious things over time. You might want to have a look at the Crime page in Explore, or at the Law Stuff website.
Have you tried asking your friend directly about this? It sounds like you are a really good friend and are worried for her, but its important to remember that everyone has to make their own choices and be responsible for these. It can be hard to change someone when they are not ready so its okay to think about yourself and do what is best for you too.
Are you with your friend when she is stealing? While it is not your fault, Im concerned that if she does get caught and you and she are together you may be in a difficult position. It might be a good idea to think about talking to your parents or carers about this so they know what is going on for you and what your worries are about your friend.
Please feel free to come and talk about this some more by calling a counsellor on 0800 1111 or by logging in for a 1-2-1 chat.
Take care,
Sam
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
You can ask me about anything you want, there's nothing too big or small. I read every single letter but I can only answer a few each week. My replies are published here on my page.
