> In a town near me, the store generates ~3000 arrests a year

Of first time shoplifters? I find this incredible, as when I worked Walmart (admittedly eons ago) you had to be a very well known repeat offender to get caught. Everyone else would simply be yelled at to leave at best.

Target (from friends at the time) even had a policy to simply let thieves do their thing and document until they hit the threshold for a felony - at which time they'd take action.

Just that repeat offender list ended up with an arrest maybe every other day or so though.

I find it amazing society has changed that much in such a relatively short time. I know every store/location is different but this stat definitely blew my mine.