At first glance, stealing does not seem like a terrible act: of course, it is unpleasant to lose property or money, but things can be bought, money can be earned, nothing irreparable happens. And yet it happens that the victims of theft are deprived of vital treatment, are left without a livelihood - such circumstances can plunge a person into despair and even push them to commit suicide. That is why theft is considered not only a grave sin in all religions, but also a crime in the legislation of all states.
No matter how grievous a person's sins are, while he is alive, he always has the opportunity to cleanse his soul by repentance. Truly sincere repentance presupposes a firm intention to change your life, it is not by chance that the Savior said to repentant sinners: "Go and sin no more."
It is very difficult to fulfill such a parting word: having got used to living in sin, a person very easily returns to even minor offenses - what can we say about such a grave sin as theft. The severity of sin is determined not only by the degree of damage inflicted on others, but also by the extent to which he “captures” the soul. From this point of view, it is very difficult to "recover" from theft through repentance.
Professional thief
For some people, stealing is a "profession", a source of livelihood. They go door to door and rob apartments or get on public transport and rummage through pockets and bags for wallets, just like ordinary people come to a factory or office.
Having lived with theft, such a person cannot imagine life without it. His social circle is made up of the same criminals as him. In this circle there are certain group values and even a kind of morality: do not steal from your own people, do not cheat by playing cards with other thieves, do not take part in political life, etc.
The thieves' subculture is so closed that in the criminal jargon the word "person" means only a representative of the criminal world, all the rest are not people, in relation to them it is not necessary to observe moral principles. Accordingly, all the reference faces of a person belonging to this subculture are also thieves.
In order for such a professional thief to repent, someone who does not belong to the underworld must become a reference person for him. Given the opposition of oneself and one's social group to law-abiding citizens, this is extremely unlikely.
Accidentally stumbled person
Theft does not always become a profession. Such an act of a person can be pushed by extraordinary circumstances - unemployment, hunger, a serious illness of a loved one, requiring expensive treatment. In this case, the decision to commit theft is very difficult for a person, and he does not want to commit such an act again. Unfortunately, a good intention can remain an intention.
If professional thieves are good at covering their tracks, then the crime of a person who accidentally stumbles is more likely to be solved. With the stigma of a criminal record (especially if the term of imprisonment was not conditional, but real), it is very difficult to get a job, because no one trusts a person who is once convicted of theft. The unemployed, left without a livelihood, has only one way - to steal. The second time, such a decision is already easier than the first, and then the unfortunate person goes along the "beaten track."
To prevent this from happening, there are charitable organizations that help former prisoners with employment. In general, the likelihood of remorse and correction of an accidentally stumbled person is higher than that of a professional thief.
And yet, no one can refuse the hope of repentance - not even the most inveterate criminal.
