How did the store person handle it wrong? It's not their responsibility to punish your child and if they had been stern or not nice, then you'd be here griping about that. It's nobody's responsibility but your own to be hard on your kids for stealing, least of all someone in a customer service position who can get written up or lose their job for not being nice and friendly.

It is not reasonable to expect a store clerk to be firm with your kid. That is YOUR job.

You got some great suggestions on this thread. Implement some harsh consequences or your kid will do this again and again.

It is not appropriate of you to expect the store clerk to punish your son or speak to him sternly. You're the parent, so parent him.

In less you have no other option, kid does not go in stores and stays home till he can behave. He needs more consequences as your talking is not working. Its not the stores responsibility to parent your child.

I wonder if you could take him into the police station and introduce him to a police officer. Tell the officer what DS did and how he returned the gum, but you want him to see where he could end up if he steals again. I would scare him straight.

Going forward, I would insist he hold my hand in all stores so I could keep a close eye on him. I (and DH) would do that for a month or so depending on how often he is in a store. I realize that's a pain for you, but he will not like it either. I a a big believer in if you act like a baby, I treat you like a baby.