SINGAPORE: The student went to a store near his school, and when no one was looking, helped himself to some bottles of drinks. He left without paying. 

The drinks weren't meant for him - they were for friends, or rather friends he was hoping to make. And the student later said he had every intention to return to the store to pay for what he took.

This case, shared by a psychologist, illustrates how the desire to fit in a social circle is among factors pushing youths in Singapore - some as young as 10 years old - to commit theft. 

Details were kept to a minimum upon the psychologist's request to avoid identifying the student. 

In the first half of 2025, the number of young people arrested for shoplifting increased by 41.1 per cent from the corresponding period last year, going from 192 cases to 271. Those nabbed were aged between 10 and 19, according to latest statistics released by the Singapore police.

Shop theft was one of the top offences committed by youths, a trend flagged by authorities since their previous report last year. 

Shoplifting also formed the largest proportion of physical crime cases in the first six months of this year.

"STREET CRED"

Psychology experts told CNA that for many youths, shoplifting has to do with seeking out new and - to them - exciting pursuits. 

The reward centre of the brain - which motivates and reinforces behaviours associated with positive experiences - is "highly sensitive" during the teenage period.

This nudges them to favour doing things that feel good or fun, said educational and child psychologist Dr Vivien Yang from Bloom Child Psychology.

Dr John Shepherd Lim, chief well-being officer at the Singapore Counselling Centre (SCC), noted that the young typically have limited faculties of impulse control and moral reasoning, as these are still in the process of developing. 

Since they do not understand the reality of what they are doing, stealing and shoplifting can become "glamourised" as a form of achievement, he added.

Youths are also concurr...