14 year old niece has, over the last 18 months, become a habitual liar and a sneak thief in her own home, stealing money from her parents and older siblings. Now she's gone one step further. She took her Granny's debit card and used it (contactless), to the tune of almost £200, before she was caught. I don't know the consequences she's facing inside the family but I know the police were not involved. I'm guessing her Mum has had to repay Granny.
Would involving the police have been a good idea? She certainly seemed frightened by the idea when it was spoken about, but it was decided against by her parents. Whether that fear will stop her stealing anything else is anybody's guess. How do you stop a kid stealing? She's not terribly bright, and is emotionally immature, so I'm wondering if she's just not grasped the concept that if she steals, then someone else does without? Does that seem possible, at 14? Granny is on a pension and couldn't afford food, because niece had spent her pension on fripparies and fancies. She says all the right things at the time, makes all the right noises and sounds contrite, and then goes her merry way, stealing again. I don't understand how to help her (and her suffering family) but I want to.