9 year old stealing large amounts of money

[Nonono11]

today we have discovered my 9 year old has stolen at least £60 from us, in separate occasions. We have an envelope with a wad of £20 notes that my husband was given when he sold a bike, which he has kept in our bedroom hidden at the back of The drawers. Today he caught my son trying to take some of it, and he lied and said he didn’t have any of his own underwear so was looking for some of my husbands to wear?!? Anyway after a while we managed to get bim
to admit to taking £20 on 3 separate occasions, but we worry that the true amount is higher.
He has Adhd and his behaviour is difficult but we didn’t expect it would get to this stage. What do we do and how do we get him to understand how serious and wrong this is, as well as a suitable consequence?

It's difficult if he has ADHD because there will also be a level of immaturity there, so you're looking at maybe handling the situation as though he was 6.

First thing that I'd want to know is why he wants the money, has someone been asking him for money? How disability will make him more vulnerable.

Who has he told about the money too? Some areas I've lived in you'd be lucky to still have it in the drawer...

I just read my original post back and realised how bad the spelling and grammar is…I think I was half asleep when I wrote it!
He says he has taken the money to buy snacks when he is out with his friends on his bike, which I can believe as he is constantly wanting food - junk food mainly - which I obviously don’t buy him, he is given mostly healthy meals and snacks and when he says he is hungry is offered yoghurt, fruit. He is already overweight, which is another issue.
When my husband caught him going through the drawer earlier he denied it and continued to deny it, then admitted to taking money once, and promised he hadn’t taken more, then it was twice, now three times. I honestly think he has no idea how much he has taken.
My husband thinks we shouldn’t buy him birthday presents for his birthday in October but I feel this is just too cruel, I couldn’t do that, but at the same time this isn’t just 50p, £1 here and there it’s £20 notes he has taken. We are struggling with what to do as a way of consequence for this.
Grounding him will mean he is inside after schools, and if he is out with friends he is at least exercising as he is on his bike, running around etc. which considering he is overweight is important.

He says he has taken the money to buy snacks when he is out with his friends on his bike

Do his friends have money for food and does your DS get any pocket money?

junk food mainly - which I obviously don’t buy him, he is given mostly healthy meals and snacks and when he says he is hungry is offered yoghurt, fruit. He is already overweight, which is another issue.

It's pretty normal for someone with ADHD to be Dopamine chasing by eating junk food or even sensory seeking by eating or drinking often.

When my DS was eating constantly I found that what we were giving him wasn't quite in the right balance.

Have a look at this guide from the Caroline Walker Trust. We read the one for teens when DS was overeating, made a few tweaks, and his overeating did cut back.

Is he on medication for his ADHD?

He is already overweight, which is another issue.

Does he do any other activities rather than go on his bike? Things like a Martial Art, Cubs, Athletics, Swimming or Hockey might be really good for him.

Could you or your DH start the C25K with him or do workouts at home? He might start getting his Dopamine from exercise rather than eating junk hopefully.

When my husband caught him going through the drawer earlier he denied it and continued to deny it, then admitted to taking money once, and promised he hadn’t taken more, then it was twice, now three times. I honestly think he has no idea how much he has taken.
My husband thinks we shouldn’t buy him birthday presents for his birthday in October but I feel this is just too cruel, I couldn’t do that, but at the same time this isn’t just 50p, £1 here and there it’s £20 notes he has taken. We are struggling with what to do as a way of consequence for this.

I wouldn't give him a delayed consequence like this either. With ADHD he's likely to have an inability to reflect and also, as I mentioned earlier, a level of immaturity. What you do though I'm not sure, I'd maybe post in the SN Children Section to ask for suggestions. What I would say though is that if you are going to punish him, it needs to be immediately.

Just wanted to add that he probably needs a high protein diet due to his ADHD. So if you want to give him yogurt between meals, try the high protein yoghurts but also try him with things like a cooked chicken leg, cheese and cherry tomatoes or even a slice of ham.