Which group typically engages in shoplifting opportunistically without prior planning?

The correct answer is the group known as amateur shoplifters. This category typically includes individuals who engage in theft on a spontaneous basis, often driven by impulse rather than a premeditated plan. Amateur shoplifters may act on a whim, lured by an opportunity they perceive in the retail environment, such as the absence of security or distractions that allow them to grab items without being noticed.

In contrast, professional shoplifters are usually involved in organized theft rings and often have specific targets and strategies in mind, indicating prior planning. Kleptomaniacs are individuals who have a psychological compulsion to steal, which may not align neatly with opportunistic theft in the same way. Impoverished individuals might steal out of necessity, but their actions may not fit the typical profile of spontaneity associated with amateur shoplifters. Overall, the impulsive and unplanned nature of amateur shoplifting distinctly identifies this group as the correct choice.