What is the disease for stealing monetary things?

Question

I know someone who cannot stop stealing. He began stealing when he was in middle school and has continued on till today. He steals his OWN father's credit cards and money and no matter what someone tells him or threatens, he repeats his action. He steals from his own family for his and his friends pleasure. He has stolen thousands of dollars even after everyone tries to stop him. I seriously think he has a disease kind of like kleptomania. Can you help me name the disease.

Answer 1

It could be kleptomania, like other people have suggested. Two things make me think this is less likely in the case you describe.

First, in kleptomania usually the person feels compelled to steal things that they don't need or don't have a use for--stealing an XBox game cartridge when they have a Sony system and can't play it anyways. They just have an irresistible urge that comes on suddenly to steal something; there is no premeditation. If someone is stealing mostly cash, credit cards, etc., I would think kleptomania is less likely. They may be stealing for some other reason--maybe to support a drug or alcohol habit, or maybe to "test" people to see whether they really love me or are really my friends. (If you turn me in or complain, then that's proof that you really don't care.)

Second, I think someone who truly has kleptomania would feel compelled to steal in a wide array of situations--they might steal in stores and from their teacher's purse left in her desk between classes, from complete strangers as well as from friends' houses. If someone ONLY steals from "safe" people (people who aren't going to get them arrested or in serious trouble), that's another thing that would make me suspect it's not really a compulsion like kleptomania.

Answer 2

Kleptomania...that's the name of the disease.

Kleptomaniac is how you would refer to a person with that disease.

That's pretty much it, unless he's a sociopath (which might include kleptomania).

Answer 3

You got it: it's kleptomania, a compulsion to steal things. In his case, it's money or something along that line.

Answer 4

I'm not sure how it is spelled in English, but it is done by someone who can be defined as a kleptomaniac. The act of stealing alot is kleptomania.Other works for someone who steals can include the following: Thief, swindler, stealer, shoplifter, swiper, to name a few I can think of.