If the product is stolen, it doesn’t hit the inventory system for re-order until the next physical inventory of that department. Thus no new product will be shipped to fill the shelves. Welcome to modern computerized inventory systems.
Once the physical inventory issue is reconciled, they’ll stock it again. Rinse and repeat the above.
At some point, the system will probably decide “hey, we’re not making any money on this product” and quit carrying it.
I already know that - I work in IT and I’ve talked to some big box retailer IT personnel about this sort of thing over the years.
They may short circuit this process and just never restock if their entire store inventory disappears without being resold. That’s happened at some Targets and Walmarts in crappy areas of Dallas.
Interesting.