Thievery is an act, which is frowned upon by the society. However, when we see a case of an 11-year old, trying to steal a bar of chocolate or a t-shirt, we can laugh it off. This is understandable, considering it is a naïve age, where there is little understanding of what is right and what is not. It is also understandable because we can agree that they must have got caught in the moment, to experience the thrill of accomplishing something like that. Another scenario, where although we cannot turn a blind-eye, but can understand the purpose and logic of committing thievery, is when the person needs a certain good but just cannot pay for it. In this case, it is the need which is the propelling force for the action. Law considers it a crime, but well, it makes sense.

What does NOT make sense is when rich people, very well-off and of mature age, try something like this. This is when science comes in with its own explanation. These people are labelled as ‘Kleptomaniacs.’ Kleptomania is an impulse control disorder, where people fail to fight strong urges to steal objects, which are not related to monetary or any other gain. Here, the main thing is to steal. It does not matter what, or if it makes sense. What Kleptomaniacs do is steal, just for the sake of stealing.

Here in this article, we look at some of the famous kleptomaniacs.

1. Megan Fox

Having appeared in magazines like FHM, Rolling Stone and Maxim, this sex symbol is not just known for her ravishing good looks. In the past, Megan Fox was caught shoplifting a couple of times. It was not anything major, but it was enough to get her banned from Walmart, for the rest of her life. If it was something expensive, we’d say okay, she needed it, but just could not afford it. However, it was just $7 lip-gloss which she stole. She probably would have gotten it for free if she had asked sweetly, but that would not be as thrilling, would it? Maybe she is a kleptomaniac, maybe it just a moment of thrill. Nevertheless, it was enough for her to make this list.

2. Farrah Fawcett

An all-American beauty, who rose to prominence with her role in Charlie’s Angels, was a sex symbol throughout the 1970s. However, there was more to her than looks. Like Megan Fox, this beauty had a side that wanted to steal every now and then. She was caught twice, in the days of her prime, stealing clothes from boutiques. What she explained as ‘taking justice in my own hands,’ could just be an impulse to steal. Why else would you want to tarnish such a burgeoning image? Plus, she was CAUGHT twice, who knows how many times she got away with it? That makes Farah Fawcett, our no. 2 kleptomaniac. May her soul rest in peace.

3. Peaches Geldof

Daughter of the famous TV host Hughie Green, Peaches grew up in limelight and was always had a privileged childhood. As a result, she is an educated, young lady, who has written for London’s Daily Telegraph and The Guardian, and in addition, is a talented model. She is also a socialite. The more we tell about her, the harder it gets to believe how she has been involved in stealing over the years. On several occasions, she has been under the limelight for her stealing habits. She has been the topic of several shoplifting and stealing incidents, including walking out of the store without paying for a $500 dress, trying to steal undergarments from a store in East London and also, trying to bring along clothes from a shoot. Somehow, she escaped all charges but she cannot escape our list. Yet another beautiful lady, with kleptomania in her personality.

4. Tila Tequila

She is no stranger to media attention, having already made headlines for her bisexual dating show. She has her own way of making headlines. From controversial comments to web-cam stream teases, she has done it all. A complete attention-seeker, in recent times, this complex girl has started out on a stealing-frenzy, having stolen things from CVS to just a pack of chips. She was not even ashamed of it and went on to write it on her blog. Not one of those girl you can expect to tame.

5. Bai Ling

This Chinese start has gained a lot of media attention in the past. She has appeared in several magazines, with pictures and articles and whatnot. However, does that mean that she can take these magazines with her for free? Lets see. On one crazy day, Bai Ling decided to go to Los Angeles International Airport’s shop and decided to steal a few magazines and batteries. This did not turn out as planned and she got caught. Cops were called and she had to appear in front of the court. Here, if she stole something big it would not be a surprise, but magazines and batteries? A clear case of kleptomania? Perhaps.

6. Claude Charon

The only man in the list, Charon was a very successful politician from Quebec, Canada. He was homosexual, but this was not why he made the headlines that made the whole Canada scratch their heads. What this individual had done was a minor crime, but a majorly baffling one. He had tried to steal two jackets from a department store, and upon getting caught, he even tried to make a run for it. One eager fellow, would not you agree? About a month later, he resigned due to this scandal. The total amount of items was $120 and his salary at that time was $74,000. Another victim of urges.

7. Tracy Shaw

A British actress and singer, she is most famously known for her role as hairdresser Maxine Peacock in British show ‘Coronation Street.’ Having already been in the news for cocaine possession, Tracy Shaw is not just a talented actress. She suffers from a clear case of kleptomania. Why? She was caught stealing fruits from a grocery store. She was banned from that store for life. She came back, and she stole strawberries this time. Monetary gain? Could not afford? Unlikely. Kleptomania? Most sensible explanation.

8. Britney Spears

The queen of headlines, a woman who is never away from news. From her relationships, to shaving her head, she has made headlines about almost everything. One of her headline-making specialty is her habit of shoplifting, for no apparent reason. Her resume includes wearing a top and walking out of the shop with it, stealing a disposable lighter from a gas station, and also trying to stealing a wig from a sex shop. We can be sure that she has no shortage of money, then why this Britney? We can always expect a new sort of crazy from this woman, every time.

9. Lindsay Lohan

She has been a center of many controversies. Many of them were regarding her alcohol problem. However, she has also been in hot water many times due to her weakness for stealing. She has been caught on cam stealing $2500 worth of jewelry, from a Venice store. She was wearing the necklace while she walked out of the store, which her lawyer claimed was because of being ‘distracted’ and ‘absent-minded.’ She has also been accused of burglary case, which did not have enough evidence, and was also banned from Chateau Marmont for not paying her bill of a little less than $50,000. More recently, she has taken over the news again, with her employers of ‘Anger Management’ accusing her of walking from the set with bracelets, dresses, shoes and other items, which were the property of the TV Show. However, she continues to claim innocence, as always. Talking about her stealing, how can we forget how Lohan was accused of stealing an $11,000 mink coat in 2008, a $35,000 Rolex in 2010, and $100,000 worth of watches and sunglasses in August, 2012. A true troubled woman, and a famous kleptomaniac of our time.

10. Winona Ryder

Probably the most famous celebrity kleptomaniac, Winona Ryder is more than just a pretty face. She has been in the news for her relationship with Johnny Depp and her problems with anxiety and depression. However, the biggest shock came when the Oscar-nominated actress was caught stealing. She was not stealing a top, or a packet of chips, but $5000 worth of merchandise from Saks Fifth Avenue. This did not turn out to be pretty for her, as the claimants did not offer her a way out, which is usually available to people under such accusations. She eventually had to pay fines, reimburse the store and was order counselling. Some might claim she was disturbed, but does that really make sense in explaining why she stole something she could paid for very easily? What makes her a kleptomaniac, instead of a stingy person who did not want to pay for what she bought, is the fact that she had made holes in the dresses she was stealing. She did not want to wear them or resale them, she just wanted to steal. No wonder Saks decided to make an example out of her.

Kleptomania means stealing for nothing, it means taking the unnecessary risk of stealing something when you do not need it or you can easily pay for it. It means trying to steal a $10 item and losing a $75,000 paying job for it. It does not make sense, it just does not add up. This is what makes these rich individuals a part of this list. Today, doctors and psychologists describe this phenomenon as a dwindling of the will power to such a point, where it makes the afflicted one helpless in controlling his or her desire to steal, without any regard, as to what is to gained. These actions will never make sense and this is where the term ‘kleptomania’ comes in and explain it.