Whether your highest salary was $5,000 per year or $5 million per year, nobody is immune from trying to steal. Such is the case with these stories. One involves a former player in the national basketball Association (NBA) and the other a commoner from Jackson, Mississippi.

Former Phoenix Suns player Richard Dumas has been charged with eight counts of organized retail theft. The 44-year-old Dumas was among 151 people arrested in last week's roundup of theft suspects sought in multiple cases in Arizona. The 6-foot-7-inch Dumas is accused of taking about $800 worth of items from Luke Air Force Base's exchange store while working with a janitorial service. As reported in www.yumasun.com.

Dumas was seen on store surveillance cameras in September and October 2012 taking cigarettes, alcohol, food, DVDs and shoes.

Dumas played for the Suns from 1992 to 1995 and helped Phoenix reach the NBA Finals in 1993. He was waived by the Suns in 1995 after he missed drug testing. Dumas earned more than $3 million during his NBA career.

On the other end of the spectrum is Derrick Demers, 23, of Jackson, who was charged with shoplifting, possession of a hypodermic syringe, possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia and receiving stolen property. Demers was attempting to steal some Gillette razor blades.

When Demers was placed under arrest, police found a hypodermic syringe filled with suspected heroin in his possession. He also had a glass cylinder pipe commonly used for smoking crack cocaine.

Drugs has also been a factor in Dumas’ life. He entered rehab on two occasions while playing basketball.

I hope both are mandated to online anti-stealing and drug classes and seek treatment for their illnesses.