Who are opportunistic individuals that steal if the opportunity arises?

Amateur shoplifters are individuals who engage in theft primarily when the opportunity presents itself, often without a premeditated plan. They might steal items on impulse or out of opportunism, typically targeting lower-value goods. This behavior is often driven by immediate circumstances rather than a habitual or calculated approach to theft.

In contrast, professional shoplifters have a more organized and systematic approach, frequently targeting items of higher value and often using sophisticated methods to avoid detection. Kleptomaniacs are individuals with a psychological compulsion to steal, which may not be motivated by need or opportunity but by an uncontrollable urge. Substance abusers might steal as a means to support their addiction, but their theft is driven by their substance dependence rather than opportunistic behavior. Thus, the principle of opportunism strongly aligns with the definition of amateur shoplifters.