If a person was banned from a store for shoplifting ... how would they get back in their good graces?

A friend of mine ( not the GF I frequently ask help for… this time its a guy) ... he told me something really strange, because its a side of him I’d never seen.

I found out he had been banned from a grocery store for shoplifting. He was not prosecuted but had to fill out some paperwork so that if he was on the property again he would be apprehended and sent to jail for “criminal trespass”

I told him he was lucky or the manager was graceful. If you do the crime, you do the consequences one way or another.

This behavior was NOT what anyone would expect of this individual. He told me these things in confidence. He first started stealing out of necessity with a few unscanned items in the cart at the self-checkout but eventually lost control—telling himself that this would be the “last time”. As with most addictions, he got more and more brazen and LESS able to stop.

Truthbeknown he first told me (I am also very poor) that stealing food and other small items was extremely easy and was the only way he could get by. He even suggested that I do it.

Well, the day came he got caught. The store had been watching him for a long time. He had no remorse at first—saying he did what he ‘craved’ doing and thought stealing from a big-box retailer was a victimless crime—that they could afford it and he could not. Since he started taking his meds (an antidepressant and adderal, a stimulant) he has felt much more “goal and procedure” oriented and sees the err of his ways. I believe he is sincere as long as he takes his meds and remembers the consequences.

He says he really likes the store and wants to make it up even if they don’t allow him in the store again. I told him he might be okay if he waits a year or so and merely shop somewhere else and learn from the experience, but I think he REALLY needs to resolve this, one way or another. He came to me for help and advice even though he has a therapist / professional.

I looked up kleptomania and it is not precisely what this individual has. I am no professional but this guy really wanted or craved the items. Nothing big or valuable but much taken over a period of 2–3 months. I suggested professional help but he already has a therapist and meds which he said would help.

His guilt needs to be resolved one way or another, but I’m not sure what he needs or what CAN be done.