This is I guess sparked by the thread about the friend taking glasses but I don't want to derail it! All of the responses have been so shocked and severe... all cut her off this is unthinkable.
But it just reminds me of an incident when I was 17-18 where I did steal £30 from a friend. I of course accept now that it was unjustifiable but I had ways to justify it in my head at the time - I was annoyed at her, she was much richer and flash with her money, she was careless and wouldn't even notice the money was missing, she'd messed up my evening (she'd got into a state on a night out and I'd taken her home - which I now realise makes it even worse in that I took advantage of her vulnerability, god that bit still makes me feel a bit sick that she was probably grateful the next morning I was there to look after her), she'd been a bit lax in paying me back for something else because money just wasn't a big deal to her. I felt really bad in the aftermath - I probably spent most of it buying her drinks! And even now when I treat her to something I think about it sometimes.
I've grown into an adult who is scrupulously honest (I think actually more so than some people I know). I wouldn't dream of doing something similar now. But then again I also have plenty of money now so I'm not tested in the same way - I feel confident that I wouldn't do something like it though even if I was on my uppers. I'm so grateful that she never found out as 15 years on I feel confident in saying it was a momentary lapse. We've got such a close friendship and been there for each other through thick and thin. I always had less money than my peer group and I had a moment of weakness after a few drinks.
So, I'd be interested to know if anyone has anyone done similar? I guess I'm struggling to believe that I'm the absolute minority in having done something so utterly shameful like that... maybe I am?!