[skeeter]

The fact that they forgot to pay for the sandwiches misses the point.

The point is the response was disproportionate. The only thing the store didn't do was rough the pregnant woman up.

[jimmyray]

Perhaps. But Company rules that guided the Store Managers behavior may be inflexible on the matter. If he bent them, he may be subject to dismissal, for all we know. Inflexible rules like that are often put in place to avoid charges of racism, sexism, etc. by the perpetrators and their lawyers.

No one is disputing the fact they stole the sandwiches, though. It is unlikely they would have paid for them if they had not been caught.

[Cheburashka]

The fact that they forgot to pay for the sandwiches misses the point.

The point is the response was disproportionate.

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Yes, stores should always accept without question whatever excuse the shoplifter has for not paying for the item. We wouldn't want to injure the shoplifter's self-esteem.

They took stuff, they didn't pay for it. You would squeal like a pig if I came over to your place, took stuff and "forgot" to pay for it. Disproportionate you would be.