Fear of stealing (kleptophobia)

Kleptophobia is described as a fear of stealing, and on some lists also as a fear of being stolen from. For some people it shows up as worry about walking out of a shop with something unpaid for, or about being wrongly accused of theft.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek kleptein, to steal, the same root as kleptomania. It is rarely reported and is not a recognised clinical diagnosis. Repeated worry about having done something wrong without realising can sometimes be part of obsessive compulsive disorder, which is well documented.

What it feels like

• Checking bags and pockets again and again after leaving a shop
• Feeling guilty or watched even when nothing has been taken
• Worry about leaving belongings anywhere they could go missing

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Can you be afraid of stealing something by accident?

Yes, and it is more common than many people think. Some go over a shopping trip again and again to make sure everything was paid for. If those checks start to take up a lot of time, a GP can talk through the options, as this pattern is sometimes linked to OCD.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

See all session options and prices