Safeway will pay up, no doubt, but I hope this family takes legal action against the store employees personally.
They probably will sue, and get a nice tidy sum, in spite of the fact that they stole the sandwiches. If they had not been caught, it is unlikely they would have ever paid for them. Intent is hard to determine, but when facts are irrefutable and admitted to, as in this case, then they should have no case whatsoever. They have no one to blame but themselves.
That said, the store manager could have shown a little discretion, but there may be some history here that we are not privy to. Perhaps he already let them off twice before?
What?
Why?
What action?
She consumed store merchandise and attempted to leave without paying for it. Everywhere else, it’s called shoplifting.
Take away the sobbing, the baby and the victim status of a “veteran” and you’ve got a shoplifter.
The store was 100% within their legal rights to call the police.