I wish they had this policy when my kids were growing up. I had a little one that put stuff in my purse. I always checked my bag at the register. I feared getting arrested over candy or cookies. Can you imagine having to explain that?
One of my sons, when he was probably about 3 tried to steal a candy bar at the grocery store. He knew he was doing something wrong, because he was trying to hide it from me as we checked out. He had already taken a bite of it. I took it from him and apologized to the cashier and told her to add it to my other groceries. To my amazement she said, "Oh, it's ok, he can have it, dont' worry about it."
I told her no, that was stealing and my son was not going to learn to steal. I paid for the candy bar (probably gave him a whack on the rear, I don't remember) and when we got to the car, I ate it in front of him! But I was so angry that the store clerk made it out to be no big deal!
susie