stealing and lying

my daughter is 13 she is stealing from me and other people I tryed eveything to get her to stop it started when she was very young .... nothing is working and she is getting better at it evey time she is busted she learns how i found out she did it and she learns for example to hide  those candy wrapers in the neighbor garbage can and not leave them in her room. or to close the purse the way it was when she opened it.I am starting to think there is no hope and that she will be like her father who has been in and out of jail for stealing and drug abuse 'He can sell ice to eskmos aswell" I live in a very small town and don't even know if I can find a couslor but I know we need help with this....


This discussion is related to My eleven year old Granddaughter lies and steals all the time.

[LRM1021]

Children often steal because they feel "cheated" -- and this is the way that they "get even." It can be a temporary reaction to a stressful situation, or it can be a habitual action-- a negative characteristic that needs more long-term attention to resolve.

You mention that this has been going on for years. I know you said its going to be difficult to find a counselor, but you must find one for her if you want this to resolve. Its obviously not temporary, so something in her environment and/ or in her personality make-up is making her do this-- and a counselor/ psychologist/ therapist is the only way to get through it and deal with it. You might want to start with her school to see what resources may be available. I would then call your local health department to get additional information about available resources.

Good luck.