"Is receipt checking a practice that violates civil rights while treating customers as criminals until proven otherwise, or are retailers simply trying to cut shrink and avoid passing on the related costs to the same people who are loudly complaining?"

https://securitytoday.com/blogs/reaction/2011/03/the-right-a...

> Most medium and large retail stores have a security guard at the door

Not anywhere I've ever shopped.

The closest I've ever seen is the Walmart greeters, on the rare occasions when I can't avoid going to Walmart.

But then, I live in a rural area, and almost exclusively shop in suburban and small-city stores (the largest city I regularly shop in is Syracuse, NY).

I have noticed loss prevention being fairly pervasive, but I have rarely noticed actual security guards. The difference being loss prevention is there to stop shoplifting, and are generally instructed to never use any physical force. They'll take a description and let the shoplifter get away if the situation becomes violent.

I could probably count on one hand the number of times I've seen someone who looks like they were placed to discourage armed robberies. Although I have frequented a few grocery stores that had police hanging out.

> Most medium and large retail stores have a security guard at the door

I have only ever seen this at Best Buy. Perhaps it varies from on area to another, though.

Even then that guard isn't going to try to stop people, even obvious offenders. They're there to get a good look at you on the way out, and spook the low-effort thieves who may chicken out.

Workers comp for 3-5 stitches and a day or two off of work would cost way more than just letting someone walk out with a couple Nintendo games or some headphones.