Marge, Is your daughter living at home now. We have to lock our things in our bedroom whenever we leave the house. Is that an option for you. My goal was to get our son graduated from high school. If you kick her out will she be able to do that? These are such tough situations.

Marge- There are residential transition living programs that treat these young people with respect to their age and assist them in learning basic skills of independence. However your daughter must agree to such a program.
Where is she living now? Until she scares herself through the realization of making it entirely on her own, our hands are tied. I would urge you to stay firm with your decision to not have her in the house, but leave the light on for her, that is to say be sure she can find her way back so that one of these programs could be presented to her. Chances are if she was desperate enough to open the safe, which it would seem easy to detect, then perhaps her need for money is motivated by a more sinister need, such as substance abuse.

Marge,

she is and still remain your child. Bringing up a child includes giving her the right values in life and teach her to be independant and self-supporting. Lock her out is simply not an option, I suggest you take a year off work and dedicate this year to regain your daughter and her life, help choose her friends for her. Go to church with her.
At all times, keep the communication open!

Marge,
What do you mean "you are concerned for your safety?" It sounds more like you are concerned for your safe. Reaching your child's heart is a difficult thing but is not impossible if you will really keep her best interest in first place.
Our children strike at us when they feel that they are not of real importance or value to their "loving parents". We live in a throw away society and that mentality has affected every aspect of our lives. If you really want to reach her you will be able to. Open the safe and give her everything. You would probably give every thing you have to get her back or get her help. What is she worth to you? Two mothers of seven children