1. They don’t like their boss. Nearly 40 percent of people who steal or commit fraud later reported HR-related factors, such as a negative performance review, being passed over for a promotion, broken promises, or having their salary or benefits cut. It makes sense that some people, after what they perceive to be an injustice, will turn to stealing as a way to get even.

2. Financial circumstances. Whether it’s an unexpected expense (i.e., hospital bills) or living beyond one’s means, people who need money may turn to stealing. This is especially true for people who have a gambling or drug problem.

3. Too many employees have a “what does it matter” mindset. HR professionals often hear the refrain: “The company is doing great. No one got hurt.” We have this ability to detach ourselves from ethical standards, especially when the only victim is a non-human, abstract entity called “the company.”

4. There is little chance of getting caught. Research shows that anywhere between 30% and 60% of people will take advantage of opportunities to steal if there is no chance that anyone will find out. It’s amazing how quickly we become ethical mathematicians calculating in our minds whether anyone will find out or notice what we’re stealing.

5. Everybody is doing it (including those in charge). This is another example of what is called moral disengagement. How can stealing be considered wrong if everyone at work is doing it, including supervisors?

6. Stealing as a habit. Kleptomania is real. Some people steal because they can’t control their impulses. The research shows that people with kleptomania do not typically plan their thefts, and they often feel remorse.

7. Getting fired is the worst case scenario. It was discouraging to learn that many companies do not refer serious cases of stealing and fraud to law enforcement. Their number one reason was the fear of bad publicity. The number two reason was the cost to the company. So, from the employee perspective, why not steal if the only consequence is getting a pink slip?

People don’t just steal money, staplers or inventory. Data theft is real, whether it’s stealing client lists or other proprietary information. So is theft of services, such as falsifying timekeeping records. In fact, the American Society of Employers estimate 20% of every dollar earned by a U.S. company is lost to employee time theft.

5 Steps Leaders Can Take to Reduce Stealing in the Workplace

Prioritize ethical behavior

According to the Harvard Business Review, employees rank “high ethical and moral standards” as the most important characteristic of effective leaders. This is why it’s vital for you to establish honesty as one of your core values and find creative ways to keep explaining and reaffirming ethics so it becomes part of your team or company culture. And remember, it’s not enough for you to just “walk the talk” — you also need to explicitly communicate and reinforce the expectation that all your team members think and act with high ethical standards.

Don’t think surveillance is the answer

Too many companies think cameras, no-notice audits, and computer monitoring programs are the only steps needed to guard against employee theft and fraud. I get it, we live in the digital age. But these steps will most likely only lead to reduce the level of employee loyalty and trust.

Set up confidential platforms to report stealing

It was an anonymous tip that helped Yale uncover that one of their administrators was committing fraud. In fact, research shows that 40% of all cases regarding workplace theft and fraud are detected by anonymous tips — and half of those tips came from employees at the company (internal audits were the second most common method). Whether it’s a phone number, an email address, or a suggestion box, send the signal to your employees that they can anonymously report suspicious activity.

Develop a dashboard of “No Stealing” Reminders

There is a common adage among those who study workplace theft and fraud that 10% of people will never steal, 10% will steal at any opportunity, and that the other 80% could go either way. Your job as a company leader is to appeal to those 80%. Use your staff meetings to appeal to the better angels of their nature. We also know from the research that company-wide symbols, rituals, buddy systems, and visual “ethical reminders” – including ethical quotes, slogans and stories – can help employees be their best possible selves at work.

Change your mind-set on who is stealing

It’s not the new kid on the block. According a recent report issued by the Association of Fraud Examiners, 70% of corruption in the energy, manufacturing, government and public administration sectors were perpetrated by someone in a position of authority. The lesson for leaders is that too often someone who is stealing is someone you may also trust. Good behavior and company loyalty sometimes fades away when the opportunity to steal presents itself.

Several years ago The School for Ethical Education published The Golden Compass for Character-Based Decision Making. Written by Dr. David Wangaard, the executive director of the non-profit organization, the publication explains the power of using a 4-step process to make an ethical decision. At the heart of the process is knowing and showing fidelity to your own Personal Character Goals. You goal as a leader, whether in the classroom or boardroom, is to: (1) establish and model your own personal character goals; and, (2) motivate others on your team to form their own moral compass based on the timeless principles of honesty and the Golden Rule.

Read the previous part of this series, Why Do Kids Lie? and sign up to receive the “Ethics in Action” blog and webinar series in your Inbox. Be sure to subscribe to receive Part 5 in the Why Do Kids Steal? series:

Part 5: Webinar: An Interview with an Expert on Why People Steal

Following this part of our series, we will also explore Why Do Kids Cheat?