Fascinating story.

well...the only reason why i don't shoplift is because i don't want a criminal record...but i won't lie...ive thought of it....i blame commercialism...capitalism...and of course ...the media......i find retailers are the ones robbing people...and not to mention....when people are shoplifting ..we are paying for it...not the people making a lot of money by over pricing....so ya...i don't care if i buy something stolen....and will always look for the bargain.....so if people are willing to risk jail time for me to have a better deal...i support them.....

I work as an LPR and this reality. Everyday all the time. They can be right next to you and you probably wont notice

looove how they tried to pass the blame for boosters onto the people who buy the cheap goods and dont ask where it came from. the math for a consumer is simple, we know the big stores rip us off for example i dont believe for a second the guy needs to sell what was it 7 bikes to make up for one stolen one. we see someone supplying product for what we think it is actually worth and we go for that. the stores sell for to much the boosters boost the goods the fences sell to us for what we think it is worth and then everyone wonders where the underground market comes from

Now, i haven't actually seen this documentary yet, however i saw some interesting comments and i would like to respond :).
To Jaimie: i like your view, the stores are very over priced and i too would buy a "hot" item if i can get a good deal. And CAPITALISM: BANG ON! Call me a socialist or what now but i think its a very crooked system. I beleive that in a world where the poor get poorer and the rich richer, its no woner why people resort to crime. Now im not saying that prices would be lower if we lived in a Socialist society (because the definately would not) but i do beleive people would be a lot less desperate if people are a little more equal. Anyways, i have more but i really thought this was interesting

I think the sad thing is that our values have melted and vapourised into thin air. Theft is wrong simply because it is theft. Theft undermines the contract we have with all our fellow humans. There are no mitigating circumstances - there is no excuse - there is only a crime.
We should not shoplift simply because it is not civilised and shows total disrespect for our compatriots that share our living space and it destroys self.

Very, very, very sad.

I work for an investigation company in toronto, when I'm not on a case, I'm an LPO (loss prevention officer). You would be shocked at the things I see daily. From crackheads shoving meat down their pants, to your average grandpa stealing fishing lures. I don't agree with the comment that they try passing boosters off for everyday shoplifters, let's say one bike is stolen...worth 200bux at a canadian tire, well times the 200bux by 40. Every 1dollar stolen from a canadian tire cost them 40dollars to recover. Now at your average grocery store (metro,food basics) it costs a little over 100dollars to recover every 1dollar missing. You can choose not to believe the facts...but then again it is facts, remember that the time it takes to order,ship,receive, and most stores don't buy single items they have to buy it at a minimum rate, example; 1 bottle of shampoo, has to be bought in a minimum box of 10, and they don't sell just 1box, its a minimum of 5 cases with 10 per box. Next time your at your local grocery store, hang out in the meat and health n beauty section. You may see a booster shoving items in a dufflebag!

I get quite upset at the people who laugh when someone absentmindedly walks out with something and then say, oh sure you meant to pay for it, tell it to the judge. The problem is, it has happened to me many times over the years, and I have always returned and paid for the item, or just left it if I didn't have the time to stand in line again. And yes, they are small items that can get lost in a shopping cart amongst winter coats and such. Just as bad are the clerks who don't even say thank you, but stare at you like you are insane.

As a 13 year old I shoplifted as my parents didn't believe I needed money. I got a lunch for school...what more did I need? Allowance...what's that?
What I discovered when I started selling the stuff for money was that cigarettes, chocolate and condoms were the biggest sellers. Natives who steal off res and sell to the on res merchants threatened to kill me and that ended that. They were concerned as the theft of cigarettes(that they don't need) brought attention to the theft of meat and diapers.

If it wasn't for shoplifters, Loss prevention officers wouldn't have a job. Food for thought....