How is shoplifting defined?

Shoplifting is specifically defined as the act of stealing goods from a retail establishment. This definition focuses on the context of theft occurring within a commercial environment, where a business is attempting to sell goods to customers. In this case, the essential element is that the goods are taken without payment while the retail context emphasizes the illicit nature of the act.

While the other choices touch on theft or unauthorized use, they do not encapsulate the specific situation that shoplifting pertains to. For example, the first option broadly describes theft from a public space, which could encompass various scenarios beyond retail, and does not specifically address the commercial aspect of shoplifting. The third option speaks to unauthorized use, which might not necessarily involve theft or a retail context at all. The last choice about the legal purchase and resale of goods is unrelated to theft and therefore does not fit the definition of shoplifting.

Thus, recognizing shoplifting as the theft of goods from a retail establishment accurately captures both the act of theft and the specific venue in which it occurs.