You’re exactly right, it’s looting when it’s a group, which 3 makes it one.
My wife is a manager at our local Meijers, has worked in the chain for 24 years now. She would have had fun with these cows. She is not allowed to physically touch them, but the carts are another matter.
She has had pushouts like this happen several times here, if the employees are watching them because their gut is saying they are going to do it, my wife strategically positions herself and waits. If they make a break for it she chases after them, then grabs the cart and flips it as hard as she can when she runs by, dumping everything across the drive in front of the store. she just keeps right on going while other employees step out to catcall the thieves and let them know they are being filmed. No one ever stops to pick the cart and goods up, they just dive into the getaway vehicle and leave. Once it was a nice piece of electronics that got damaged when she did it, she thought the store director would be upset about it but he later slipped her a $20 gift card normally given to appease cranky customers and told her officially not to do that, with a wink and a grin.
She always comes home with a huge smile whenever that happens.
“You’re exactly right, it’s looting when it’s a group, which 3 makes it one.”
Multiple participants in a crime is also a criminal conspiracy.