Traditionally it's been a way for big businesses to bully local municipalities into giving them free security via local cops, tax incentives, etc by claiming that they're losing so much money to shoplifters that they have no choice but to close shop unless something changes (which is always bullshit, they're printing money). Walmart is infamous for doing this to small towns after they annihilate any local competition through lower prices from their economy of scale.

I always figured the playbook was something like:

1. Cut staffing (and save $$$)
2. Shrinkage increases due to fewer staff
3. Construct a narrative around rising crime, of which locking up products is a part
4. Get more cops

Congratulations, you've successfully shifted costs of protecting your property on the public!

I think it's simply that they want to close stores, and just saying it's because store has lower profits than their target will mean they have to field a bunch of calls and letter campaigns from grumpy people trying to tell them their neighborhood is important, while saying it's crime will get those same people to blame anyone else.

The people's VOLCEL VANGUARD are on the scene! PLEASE RESERVE YOUR PRECIOUS BODILY FLUIDS FOR STRATEGIC ACTS OF MASS REVOLUTIONARY CUMMING!!!

Yeah the deodorant getting locked up is so ridiculous, these are $3-4 items and you need to keep them behind plexiglass? Fuck you, I'm shop lifting out of principle now.

How will the customers get overstimulated otherwise?

The one here had their drink cooler actively broken, making weird noises and smells, for two full months before someone finally put up a sign that said "sorry, the cooler isn't working; the drinks are fine but warm".

Easy for you to say about meat in particular

Me too. It is too much of a hassle. It is easier just to eat something else.

The small pharma where I go has a gift shop attached. I shop there for fun