I think they let the squirrels steal the candy deliberately...as you said, they could stop it if they really wanted to.
They are probably far better known because of the squirrel thieves!
This is in Toronto. If that happened in certain shops across the bridge from me, say in Oakland or Richmond, those cute little varmits would probably get shot by one of the customers. A lot of younger shoppers in corner stores like that one, will come in wearing their ear phones for the music, or texting on their iphones. They may be taken by surprise, then suddenly feel something furry and rat-like crawling quickly up their pants leg. ::BLAM!!::