Article on history of shoplifting in 1700s
by Shelley Tickell (University of Hertfordshire) Shoplifting in Eighteenth Century England is published by Boydell and Brewer Press. SAVE 25% when you order direct from the publisher – offer ends on the 5th March 2019. See below for details. What would you choose to buy from a store if money...
ehs.org.uk
This sounds like now:
Despite growth in luxury goods most shoplifters concentrated on goods that could be sold on in the working class communities they lived in.
Due to the slave trade/ sugar plantations some in 18c had large disposable income to spend on luxury goods.
London then was as divided as it is now. If not more so. There are parallels between then and now.
Getting caught was serious. As could lead to hanging. But shoplifting was part of poor community economic survival. The goods were basic ones that people needed. Not luxury goods.
It was part of the economy of the working class communities.
Reminds me of some of my older born and bred Londoners colourful pasts they recount to me. Pilfering or a bit of thieving was considered ok. But it was luxury goods such as handbags for the missus. Shared out.
Back in 18c thieving from high price shops was not easy as shopkeepers could tell by accent etc if someone was not "genteel"
More recently in the good old days prior the sophisticated tagging one could dress the part and just walk out. It was having the front to do it ( Ive been told) that enabled one to get away with it. This was one technique. This was admired and socially accepted in certain circles.
Shoplifting/ pilfering has been a part of economic life of the less well off since the advent of consumer society and capitalism Id say.