Inform on local strongman presumably taking stock
I believe the answer is:
shoplifter
'stock' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for shoplifter that I've seen before include "Thief" , "guilty party" , "A petty criminal" , "Thieving customer" , "Robber" .)