I appreciate your honesty with this. I hope they don't close this thread. As we can see by the number who jumped in here with replies. It is very much a psychological problem. Part of a mental illness. I don't know that it is connected to OCD as someone mentioned, but there is definatly a compulsion issue and not being able to fight it. similiar to an addiction. I had this going on for me too. But once I got caught in the grocery store and they said if I signed a paper and stayed out of the store they would not call police. It was "iffy" as to whether or not they could actually charge me as I had not yet left the store with stuff....I was still shopping. But getting caught put the fear of God into me. I had been doing this for several years. I had the money to buy said items but the compulsion to sneak it was overwhelming. Like i had to win or something. so, I can totally relate to your post. Is truly a real problem for some people.