Why Theft Prosecutes First

Chazal say that in the World to Come theft jumps first and is the main prosecutor. Why theft, of all sins? The Chofetz Chaim answered with a parable. A merchant with a store went bankrupt, and the suppliers who had given him goods came demanding payment. He told them he had nothing left. As long as the merchant argues with his creditors, nothing happens. But if one creditor is bold and brazen, he demands his money, and when he sees that the merchant cannot pay, he does not keep negotiating. He simply grabs goods from the shelves. As soon as he starts, all the other creditors follow, until the merchant is stripped of everything. So too, when a person arrives in Olam HaBa, all the sins he committed meet him, but none can harm him yet. Theft jumps forward and begins to accuse, because the angel created by a sin shares the nature of the sin, and theft is done with force and chutzpah. It shouts and gives no peace, and once it starts, all the other sins begin shouting as well.