How much $ did you make? Did they ban you from the whole shop network?
Ok let's make a compilation
In places where they dump goods in the mall (we got a large depot that has trucks going in there), get inside thru the mall entrance to the depot wearing a cap and one of those cards you put around your neck, grab anything that looks valuable and calmly go inside the mall (to add credibility ask anybody inside if they know about anymore of that item coming) then instead of bringing the goods to the shop they might be sold walk out of an exit of the mall. I did this 4 times before they caught me and kicked the shit out of me
I had a friend who compulsively shoplifted. He'd take silverware without even knowing he was doing it (his coat was always armed with spoons), and when he stole from stores out of a strange compulsive thrill he'd go out of his way to sneak back inside to return it.
I've known a few thieves, but his case was the most interesting to witness from the reluctance and abnormal autopilots.
Reminds me of the time I told the bodyguard at the entrance of a supermarket that I'm going in to steal some alcohol and he shrugged and said go ahead. I can imagine how big your head must be to be able to fit an alcohol bottle under your cap :P
You must be good handed for this one and make sure it's something small / similar to the other items enough to pass as plausible. While the cashier is scanning and turning to the thing to calculate total open a bag and under the bag slip your stolen product (extra bottle of jack for ex) and start inserting the other items. Most of the times cashiers don't notice but when they do smile and say "I was wondering why you typed 3 instead of 4 on the machine" or something (you gotta remember cashiers tend to be darwins worst pick so this gotta happen rarely). Once outside the mall I got stopped by a security man that I imagine was called from the shop and I showed him the ticket and the contents of the bag briefly (instead of 4 colas i told him 3) and he let me go. What I like about this one is that you can easily blame the cashier for it
Cover some stuff in your basket with a hat and then put it in your bag after you paid.
If you're in a smallish grocery shop: act like you own the place, nobody gives a fuck, unless you go for something big and expensive. I would just take bottles and drink and other customers wouldn't mind, which is weird, cause they mind when I cross the street on the red light.
buy something, you look less suspicious if you're spending money. no one wants to accuse an honest shopper of stealing.
sliding things up your sleeve.
hiding small items inside the loo paper wrappers down in the cardboard tube
swap price tags with clearance items
buy expensive items and return them with cheap items in the box "I found it this way when I got home"