It might be largely because the location is in NY and they have proved themselves rather corrupt, the GM/District MGR of Big Lots *might* have gotten a call from Hochul or the like and heard “or else” kind of thing.
Am not defending Big Lots one bit, however in other parts of the country the perp might be smacked to the pavement by locals and held on the ground until the cops arrived and have a totally different outcome.
It seems to be a policy with most retailers. My son manages a store that has been hit possibly by the same group 3 times in 2 weeks. They walk in basically say what they are doing and walk out. One was several thousand dollars worth of high end merchandise. Policy is basically to offer them a bag to carry it out. No intervention allowed or be fired. Afterwards you call police and spend serveral hours with loss prevention checking inventory. .