Stacey Dooley, known for her immersive documentaries, tackles a timely and troubling issue in “Meet the Shoplifters.” With shoplifting on the rise across Britain, Dooley goes beyond the headlines to understand the motivations, the justifications, and the human stories behind this growing epidemic.
Dooley embeds herself within a Bodycare store in Manchester, where staff members recount the near-constant attempts to steal goods right from under their noses, sharing the emotional toll these incidents take. From low-level theft to brazen acts of defiance, the staff offers a firsthand look at the challenges facing retailers.
Then, Dooley turns her attention to the shoplifters themselves. She speaks with Chloe, a recent graduate who frames her shoplifting as a protest against corporate greed, yet whose reasons for stealing appear to go deeper than simple activism. We also meet Otto, who targets self-service checkouts, viewing his theft of food items as a form of rebellion against large corporations.
“Meet the Shoplifters” provides a platform for a wide range of voices, including Ellie, a young mother driven to steal essentials like diapers because of the cost-of-living crisis, and Bruce, whose shoplifting habit began after a period of sick leave and now finds himself caught in a cycle he can’t seem to break. The program also examines the concerning rise in violence and abuse directed at shop staff.
“Meet the Shoplifters” airs Thursday, March 20th at 21:00 on BBC Three.
