Just visited a supermarket to pick up a single item that I wasn't even sure they'd have. I went to the appropriate aisle where there were 2 young girls (approx 10/11) standing very close to the stock on the shelves. As I approached, I thought I saw one put something from the shelf into her coat pocket. As I browsed for the item I wanted, I most definitely saw one girl pick up a 2nd item, hand it to her friend and whisper to her. Girl 2 put it in her pocket. At this point, I said to the girls "I don't think you should be doing that!". They initially looked stunned that I'd spoken to them then girl 1 said " why, what have we done ?". I said I've seen you putting things in your pockets from the shelf. There will be cameras watching you". At this point, she clearly knew she'd been caught, shuffled a bit further away from me, then I heard her whisper to girl 2 "put it back", at which point they put the 2nd item back and left the aisle but walked further into the store. The 1st item was, as far as I could tell, still in girl 2's pocket. I will hasten to add that the item in question was 1) cheap and 2) not a necessity and both girls looked well turned out not destitute.
I was not threatening, didn't get in their space any more than I was as an ordinary shopper looking for something, and didn't pursue them beyond pointing out the error of their ways.
But it has left me wondering what others would have done in that situation.
Would you
a) have turned a blind eye
b) have spoken to them as I did purely out of concern that they could get into trouble or
c) gone and reported them to a staff member knowing they hadn't left the store.