What Will the Organisation Do Now I Have Stolen the Funds?

Abstract

The period just after the first theft is committed is critical for whether the offender will decide to continue to steal. This decision may occur after the offender has paid back the stolen funds to fulfil the rationalisation that they were only borrowing the funds. The offender is attempting to determine whether the organisation realises their funds have been stolen, and if not, why not? When there is no response, the offender often experiences an emotional reaction to the theft and develops confidence that the theft won’t be detected which then allows them to consider what they will do next. If they have successfully paid back the stolen funds, this will feed into their decision-making process.

Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worse kind of suffering.

—Paulo Coelho