Shoplifting (also known as retail theft, or shrinkage within the retail industry) is theft of goods from a retail establishment by an ostensible patron. It is one of the most common crimes for police and courts.

Most shoplifters are amateurs; however, there are people and groups who make their living from shoplifting, and they tend to be more skilled. Some individuals shoplift in an effort to resist selling their labor, and/or to protest corporate power, or for political attention.Why I Love Shoplifting From Big Corporations - Looking Glass News These individuals target—often exclusively—chain stores; Wal-Mart is an especially popular target for "political shoplifters" in America. Sainsbury's and Tesco are primary targets in the UK (see Evasion).

The costs of shoplifting are not always absorbed by the targeted company, but instead may result in price increaseswww.nrf.com/content/press/release2002/costshoplifting.htm. However, losses from shoplifting, employee burglary and other causes of inventory loss contribute to a not very transparent problem description.