A SAMPLE OF 32 PERSONS, 20 FEMALES AND 12 MALES BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16 AND 68, CHARGED WITH SHOPLIFTING BETWEEN 1971 AND 1975 WAS STUDIED. INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED FROM THEIR FILES ON A VARIETY OF DEMOGRAPHIC, PERSONAL, AND PSYCHIATRIC DETAILS, ALONG WITH SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE NATURE OF THE OFFENSE. MARITAL STATUS, OCCUPATION AT THE TIME OF THE OFFENSE, EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND, SEASON WHEN OFFENSES OCCURRED, NATURE OF THE GOODS TAKEN, COURT HISTORY, AND PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES AT THE TIME OF THE THEFT WERE THE DATA CONSIDERED. THE SAMPLE WAS DIVIDED INTO THREE CATEGORIES: 'SNITCH,' 'UNUSUAL,' AND 'PSYCHOTIC.' THE 'SNITCH' CATEGORY INCLUDED THOSE WHOSE RECORDS INDICATED FREQUENT SHOPLIFTING OF PERSONAL MERCHANDISE. THOSE WHOSE SHOPLIFTING WAS NOT APPARENTLY MOTIVATED BY A NEED OR DESIRE FOR THE MERCHANDISE AND WHOSE PERSONAL HISTORY SUGGESTED THAT THE SHOPLIFTING WAS AN OUTLET FOR STRESS WERE INCLUDED IN THE 'UNUSUAL' CATEGORY. THE 'PSYCHOTIC' CATEGORY INCLUDED THOSE WHOSE SHOPLIFTING WAS DIRECTLY ACCOMPANIED BY DELUSIONS. 'SNITCHES' TENDED TO BE OF EITHER SEX, BELOW 30 YEARS OF AGE, AND SINGLE; HAD A POOR WORK RECORD; SHOPLIFTED USUALLY DURING THE WINTER MONTHS; AND WERE MOST LIKELY REFERRED FOR ASSESSMENT BY THEIR LEGAL COUNSEL. THEIR DIFFICULTIES WERE CONSIDERED PRINCIPALLY FINANCIAL. FOR BOTH SEXES, HALF OF THE SUBJECTS WERE CLASSIFIED AS 'SNITCHES.' 'UNUSUALS' TENDED TO BE MARRIED FEMALES, HOUSEWIVES, AND BETWEEN 30 AND 50 YEARS OF AGE, WITH NO SEASONAL SHOPLIFTING PATTERN AND WITH NO OUTSTANDING SOURCE OF REFERRAL. THEIR DIFFICULTIES WERE CONSIDERED MAINLY INTERPERSONAL WITH THEIR SPOUSES. THIS CLASSIFICATION INCLUDED 9 FEMALES (45 PERCENT) AND 4 MALES (33 PERCENT). ONE FEMALE AND TWO MALES WERE CLASSIFIED AS 'PSYCHOTIC.' SHOPLIFTING IS CONSIDERED A CRIME MOST LIKELY TO BE COMMITTED BY PERSONS OF A PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE NATURE UNDER SEVERE STRESS. THE ACT OF SHOPLIFTING IS BELIEVED TO BE A HOSTILE OR RETALIATORY STRIKING-OUT WITHOUT A FORCEFUL CONFRONTATION BEING INVOLVED. (RCB)