"...I have stolen about $35,000 in clothes by concealing items in my purse or in a large UPS package. I covered up the thefts by running the tags through the computer as if the items were sold. As the opportunity to steal increased, so did my desire."

-Receiving Clerk, Clothing store chain

"...I started work at --------- on May 9. On May 11 I stole $200 in cash, on May 14 I stole $200, on May 15 I stole $400, on May 16 I stole $600. On May 10, 12, 13, 17, I did not work." (On May 18-by 1:30 p.m.-he had stolen $160. He was arrested at 3:15 p.m.)

-Clerk, Drug store

"...I stole over $13,000 from --------- by using several methods, like not ringing sales, fake voids, etc. I allowed my friends, about 60 in all, to come in and shoplift. It was easy to steal from here, that's why I got the job."

-Clerk, Convenience store chain

"...During the last year and a half I have stolen about $500 a week in lottery tickets amounting to about $39,000 which includes winnings. I would ring in sales of merchandise like cigarettes and gas under the lottery ticket key and use the money to buy tickets. During this same period of time I stole about $200 a week in cash amounting to about $15,600 by not ringing up sales and pocketing the money. I would use the money to try to keep up on bills. I also stole about $100 in merchandise. I was hoping to win a big jackpot, then I would pay back, plus interest. I feel that what I was doing was wrong, but my mind told me I would win big and everything would be all right."

-Clerk, Liquor/Convenience store

"Over the last two years I have stolen about $249,000 in cash by destroying daily tickets and removing the money from the cash drawer while I was alone at the front counter. On the average I stole about $2,200 a week. The tickets were destroyed in a wood stove during the winter months or torn up and thrown in the garbage at home. Even though tickets are numbered, they are not recorded in numerical sequence-so when things are rented for periods of time, the number would not match those on the day it was returned. That would help hide the fact that tickets had been destroyed. The most money I can recall stealing in one day was about $600 that would have been on a bobcat rental or compressor and jackhammer rental. One reason I stole was to pay some bills but the main reason was to keep me in the bars at night drinking and playing pull-tabs. There were evenings where I would go through $300 to $400 just in pull-tabs, plus once you add my drinking in, buying drinks for my friends, or loaning them money it could have been $500. I have been waiting for this day to happen knowing that this could not go unnoticed for long. I feel a great weight has been lifted from me now that I can talk about this. Looking back I know how wrong I have been. I have a sick feeling in my stomach because of what I did, not only to a company but to a very close personal friend. He is by far the best employer that someone could work for and I'm sorry that I have made things so tough for him. I know that I could be fired from my job and prosecuted for my actions."

-Manager, Rental store