Interesting topic that I'd not previously considered - rather than offering conclusions or advice, this book lays out the subject of shoplifting and expands upon it in an informative, fairly engaging way.

I was especially intrigued by the consideration of shoplifting as an impulse-control disorder, though some of the reported stories seemed a little hollow to me. Perhaps I'm jaded, but somebody really wanting something and resorting to stealing it doesn't quite equate to kleptomania or an impulse-control problem.

Solid book with good coverage of the subject matter - I enjoyed the read.

For a crime that is so ubiquitous and ordinary, not much is settled about shoplifting. There are debates regarding why people shoplift, the best ways to commit the act, the most effective means to curb shoplifting and catch offenders, and how to punish (or treat) shoplifters. Shteir expounds on all of these elements.

The first record of shoplifting was in the 1500s, and even then it was associated more with women than men. Between 1688-1800, over 150 laws were enacted that pertained to shoplifting, and one could even be executed for stealing. It was not until 1832 that the House of Lords declassified shoplifting as a capital offense. In the early 1800s with the rise of psychoanalysis, some doctors began to consider “theft compulsion” a disease tied to sexual repression.

The practice became more widespread with the advent of department stores, and mostly women were found to be the offenders. In the 1970s, Abbie Hoffman encouraged people to steal as an act of political revolution. Since the 1980s, men have been catching up to women in rates of shoplifters. Men are given harsher sentences while older people are given lighter sentences. While young and white people admit to shoplifting, most incarcerations are very old or very young black and Hispanic men.

The author also discusses celebrity shoplifters, theft prevention measures, and associations and therapies to treat shoplifting as an affliction tied to anxiety and compulsion disorders. During her research, Shteir never did witness anyone catch a thief in the act, but she does describe how off-duty police officers are more likely to kill someone they suspect of shoplifting. She also dedicates a chapter to the role of shame as a punishment.

Shoplifting happens everywhere in the world and punishments, treatments, and views of it vary widely. When remarking on the cost of shoplifting in human and social terms, Shteir states:

“To accept the crime as an immutable part of the global landscape means to accept that we can’t always predict who is shoplifting. It is to accept that trying to get something for nothing is considered by many people the best way to survive – even flourish. Yet if we know we can never eradicate the crime, we can try to take a hard look at the costs. An investigation of where shoplifting came from and why people do it exposes important truths about our markets, our courtrooms, and our identities. It reminds us of the secrets that shoplifters and stores want to hide” (p. 219).

Lots of interesting history and anecdotes about shoplifting, but the book could have used some more focus on individual shoplifters other than celebrities. ( )