Workplace theft: An analysis of student-employee offenders and job attributes

This paper identifies characteristics and behaviors of college students who steal from their places of employment. As such, the present study focuses on the job-related lifestyle behaviors and characteristics of students that influence their opportunities and likelihood of stealing from their place of employment. The data come from self-administered surveys conducted with 1,531 college students in the fall of 1996. Results reveal job characteristics that increase opportunity and past criminal behavior are the most influential predictors of individuals who engage in workplace theft. Policy implications are discussed.