shoplift
UK: ˈʃɒplɪft | US: ˈʃɑːplɪft
vt./vi. to steal goods from a store while pretending to be a customer
n. the act of stealing merchandise from a store
The word "shoplift" combines "shop" (from Old English sceoppa, meaning "booth" or "store") and "lift" (from Old Norse lypta, meaning "to raise" or "steal"). The term emerged in the 16th century, originally as a slang expression where "lift" humorously implied stealing by "raising" items unlawfully. Over time, it became a standard term for retail theft, reflecting the blend of commercial space ("shop") and covert action ("lift").
The store installed cameras to deter people from shoplifting.
She was arrested for shoplifting a pair of earrings.
Shoplift costs retailers billions annually.
Teenagers sometimes shoplift as an act of rebellion.
The security guard recognized the man from previous shoplift incidents.