It depicts several shoplifting scenes which convey the message that shoplifters include ordinary, middle-class teenagers and dispel the myth that only the poor and minorities are involved. Following the introduction, the film takes the viewer through a teenage boy's shoplifting experience, beginning with his initial act of putting a small can of spray paint in his jacket pocket, to being noticed by store personnel, watched by security employees, and finally, apprehended in the store's parking lot. The boy is brought to police headquarters and charged with the crime of shoplifting. It is emphasized that once a person passes through the checkout counter with concealed merchandise, the individual cannot return and pay for it; the charge of shoplifting can be made at that point. The viewer experiences the event from two perspectives: the shoplifter and the store manager. A discussion guide is included.