It is well known that our Sages considered stealing worse than robbing, for the thief demonstrates that he is more afraid of people than of God. He makes it as though there is no eye watching from Above. Parents must keep a watchful eye on their children and educate them about this because immaturity and bad friends can lead a child to ever worse activities. Unchecked, a youth can end up among those who live for indulgence.
It is proper that a person not be tight with his children and he should give them a small sum of money from time to time so that they not desire all sorts of things and end up wanting to steal. But nor should he get them accustomed to delicacies and fancy cloths and other such luxuries. For when a person desires those things he became accustomed to and cannot afford now, he is lead to stealing. People must find the balance between being overly frugal and overly lavish. One should use the blessing of Hashem to follow the middle path. A person should consistently warn his children about the seriousness of the prohibitions involved; and he should keep them away from bad friends so that they follow the path of the good.
There is another type of stealing that many people are guilty of: “stealing” the minds of others, which means misleading them. There are several sub-types of this, but the general idea is that any attempt to extract some information from his fellow’s heart is usually “stealing their mind” (unless it is to protect someone from that fellow or if it is part of an attempt to dissuade him from sin. Likewise, one who shows false friendship to his fellow, and speaks one way while thinking another, this, too, is “stealing his mind.” But one who walks in innocence will walk securely (Mishlei 10:9).
