Every day the shops are open they lose over £l million to theft; it has been described as ' a great train robbery every 36 hours'. And of course, we all pay higher prices to cover these losses. For some, shoplifting is an almost full-time occupation. They regard the risk of arrest as an occupational hazard. For others being caught leaves an indelible mark on an otherwise blameless life. Why do they do it? Michael Dean talks to the innocent and the guilty, to store managers and the police. He examines some of the myths - for example that most shoplifters are women — and asks how can we stop a crime that is costing all of us more each year.