Oy! Firing people over a paper clip? This is not my conservatism. Too hardline for me.
Very few corporations are conservative, but most of them have a no tolerance policy on theft, and I can understand why. What are they supposed to do, create a chart listing appropriate punishments for varying levels of theft? How would they do that, by cost per theft, cumulative over various time periods, by item, say, a particular punishment tied to the theft of each individual item on the menu? It makes more sense to say If it ain't yours, don't take it.
By the way, I do believe Thou Shalt Not Steal to be a conservative principle.