Life's most basic necessities are almost never what is being recovered. If someone were taking food, diapers, or baby formula, I would not be too upset with them. Even at that, there are other ways to obtain the basics of life.
There really isn't a valid reason for shoplifting. I know this isn't a fun message to receive, but no one deserves that new CD player, or movie, or piece of jewelry. We all have to work to get the things that we want. I cannot afford everything I would like to give my children, but I'm not owed those things just because I'm living. Since I do earn less than the lifestyle I would most enjoy, I go to college. THAT is the solution, not taking things that do not belong to me. I am putting forth the effort, and it will pay off in the long run.
The true beauty of our country is that anyone is capable of becoming anything they desire if they are willing to work for it. A child can be born wealthy and another in poverty. Once those two children are on their own, either can become the leader while the other struggles. Being who we want depends on the limits we place on ourselves, not those limits that would be placed on us in other countries based only on our birth.
If you want the better things in life, you can work for them and earn them if you are willing. If you are unwilling to work for the things you want than the only thing you deserve is to be thrown in jail when you get caught taking them from someone who does deserve them.
You stated that it doesn't hurt anyone to shoplift. It is true that prices will go up no matter what, but not at the same rate they would without that loss. Also, as I mentioned before, I work at Wal-Mart, when you take things, you are taking directly out of my pocket because Wal-Mart profit shares. Let's put this into perspective. When you decide you deserve a new CD player, so you just take it without paying for it, you take food out of the mouths of my children. I'm not wealthy, but I am honest enough not to take things that do not belong to me. So your sense of entitlement is played for by myself and my children.
So, fu*k you and every other thief who feels you deserve what I work for more than I do.