When it comes to a security clearance that I have gone through before it is best to just tell them what you did before they find it. Depending on how deep they check into you they will find it or if they talk to some one about you and they say they remember you stole then you will have a problem. Shoplifting most people have tried in their younger age and security clearances do take what happened in the past in considerations but also look at what you have done since when making a judgement. Many people who have legal problems in the past have security clearances now. 1 because they have changed their lives around and learned from their mistakes, 2 when they were caught they did not make a deal and turn others in to get out of trouble they took the sole responsibility for their actions. That's a big thing when the investigators try to decide if you would pass secrets from some reason. One thing is that life does not end because of stupid mistakes because humans make them all the time. No one is a perfect person
