If becoming a criminal carried more risks as it did for poor Talmika, there would be fewer criminals.
Yep, here in Tulsa a scumbag stole some beer from a convenience store. A security guard followed him outside. (It's all in the black part of town.)
The thief pulled a gun. The security guard pulled a gun. The guard fired. The thief died.
One less shoplifter.
Might not be pretty, but it's definitely an answer to shoplifting.
Oh, and no charges filed against the guard.
I've posted in the past that if stores really wanted to prevent shoplifting, they'd keep a German Shepherd by the exit doors.
The criminal type generally have a fear of dogs and will often abandon a planned crime in order to avoid them.
This is also why people put "Beware of Dog" signs in front of their houses, even though they may not even have a dog.