My 5 Yr Old Son Is Stealing...

Hang tough. He doesn't truly understand the consequences of his behavior, or the morality of stealing. He knows what he wants and when he wants it.
Stay firm and follow with consequences that increase with each incident. He is trying you, seeing if you will cave in. If this is attention seeking behavior, them make sure he gets positive attention when deserved as well as consequences for misbehavior.
All three of my kids went through this. When they found it didn't work out like they wanted it to, they gave it up.

have you had some special "mother and son" time?
i know that my son always behaves better when we designate some special one on one time doing something HE wants to do, like playing video games or doing an art or science project, and we just talk. my son is 7 and we have been doing this since he was 5 because we had two more babies since! so he needs some special attention once in a while.
take him to the movies or go fly a kite at the beach or teach him how to fish, i dont know what he would want to do but there are plenty more ideas where that came from!
good luck

I use YokaReeder.com, and she has saved me!!!
best,kia

Sounds like maybe you need help from an outside source, someone who's not mommy to talk to him. A teacher, a councilor, or someone similar to discuss his feelings with. Maybe there is something bothering him that he isn't communicating to you. Other then that, be patient and keep trying to reinforce good behavior and punish the bad. I am not a single mom, but when my husband was deployed once for 4 months my oldest son went on a rampage. It was so bad that the nursery workers at the church I went to refused to watch him. It got better as soon as my husband returned. It could just be that your son needs another influence besides yours. A friend, cousin or uncle perhaps. As for the stealing, make him give back what he took and apologize and don't let the person say it's okay.

I do not have an answer for you as I am going through the exact same things with my 5 yr old son right now.
I can tell you to be careful of Yoka Reeder as a previous post recommends. Her "teaching" is based upon L. Ron Hubbard who is very controversal and associated with the Scientology cult. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._Ron_Hubbard

Just an F.Y.I.

A couple years ago I saw a Power Rangers tv episode that dealt with stealing. If he likes Power Rangers, you might want to google it and see if you can get it on tape. It taught an excellent lesson.

hi, i would like to say that this is "just a phase". i myself went through this around that age. my mom never really handle the situation with me very well, but i have heard some parents will make there kids go up to the person, and tell them they stole this, and apologize. i assume this might help make the kid feel bad about what they did. maybe not do it anymore. i am a mom of a three year old son, and i am sure i will have to do this one day myself. my mom just told me " no, dont do that", and that didnt do any good. good luck!