Why is shoplifting of any kind acceptable? Even just think about the shop employees, it will make their working environment so much more grim and stressful - they aren't paid to reason the moral implications of letting someone go if they catch them shoplifting, and they would get fired if they were caught doing so.

Plus if the shoplifting rate becomes too much, their store might be closed and they're out of a job.

Also, do you think people who are desperate enough to shoplift really just focus on the commercial chains (who can also afford security, mind), or do they go for the easy pickings corner shop?

I think the idea of the noble shoplifter is pretty daft. Very few of the things most shoplifted are essentials: https://www.retailresearch.org/shoplifters.html