When tough financial times make day-to-day living difficult, most people look to things like personal loans as a temporary bridge. However, as we’ve seen recently in the case of Matthew and Laura Eaton, shoplifting is an unfortunate choice some make. Yet unlike most shoplifters, the Eatons went on television to crow about how they made $100,000 by shoplifting and selling their loot on eBay. Needless to say, federal agents are very interested.

The Associated Press reports that Matthew and Laura Eaton appeared on the “Dr. Phil” show in the fall of 2008 to share their story. Now, “Secret Service and members of the multi-agency San Diego Regional Fraud Task Force” commenced with search and seizure at their home. The Eatons have not currently been arrested or charged.

$100,000 per year

Dave Hillen, a San Diego County sheriff’s office detective, investigated the Eatons even before they appeared on television. The Eatons told Dr. Phil they made as much as $3,500 in one week from selling stolen toys. Matthew Eaton called the thefts “easy money” and classified himself and his wife as “professional shoplifters.”

“Every month, we make about $10,000, about $100,000 a year,” added Laura. She says they’ve amassed nearly $1 million in stolen goods over the past seven years.

“To catch up on bills”

“Why do you do this?” Dr. Phil asked the couple. “Why this instead of getting a job like the rest of us?” Matthew responded by saying

I think when I first started out, it was just something that was little. I had a job. I needed a little extra money, so I would do a job or something that was on a very, very small scale. As times got a little tougher and business was starting to go down, I began doing a little bit more to catch up on bills, car payments.

What about their children?

Of course, if Matthew and Laura are sent to prison, they will lose their children. Kleptomania won’t be an appropriate defense in Dr. Phil’s estimation:

If you think you have a defense for kleptomania, you don’t. Kleptomania is a rare condition that appears in less than five percent of identified shoplifters. A professional shoplifter often steals for profit for an illegitimate business. A kleptomaniac can’t resist the urge to steal, regardless of the monetary value, and he or she steals for a feeling of gratification and relief. A professional shoplifter steals valuable items in great quantities, whereas a kleptomaniac steals objects of little value. A professional shoplifter has plans to get away with stealing, whereas kleptomaniacs usually don’t plan their theft. A professional shoplifter often steals with others, but a kleptomaniac steals on his or her own without assistance from others.

The truth

“Are you just lazy?” Dr. Phil asked.

“Probably,” replied Matthew Eaton.

Doesn’t that say it all? Clearly times are tough, but it is the lazy who look to take advantage of others, rather than working to support themselves. Matthew and Laura Eaton are a perfect example of the kind of people America doesn’t need during the economic crisis.

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