Wrong. My son is the one who has control of this situation. He's the one who made the deal. He's the one who can follow through or not - he's the one in control.
I am parenting a diagnosed sociopath under the guidance of a trained, licensed mental health professional. I'll leave the psychological assertions that include control vs. parenting to her. Please do not tell me what I think. You don't have a clue.
You can take him to his place of employment to pick up his check, then take him to a bank to cash said check, and then make him fork over the money he owes you. That would make more of impact than stealing his check!
Your child is obviously not in control (the mental illness diagnosis indicates that), but you need to be.
Any therapist, counselor, PhD, that says the child is in control should be fired!
And before you get all testy and tell me I don't have a clue? I lived in a 15 year marriage with an unmedicated violent BiPolar, who actually meets all the criteria for a Sociopath (on or off his meds)...And I had children with him, thus I still have to deal with him. I own the fact that I chose to procreate with him. But, yeah, I have a freaking clue what it's like to deal with someone who only cares about himself, is mean, is manipulative, is a liar, is/was violent and will do whatever it takes to get what he wants.