i’d say the break is still company time. they need to be off. i don’t know about the law on this one, but break sounds like you’re still on the clock, being paid.
stealing isn’t as bad as it used to be because we have too many things. when there were fewer things and they were harder to make, then stealing was more serious. I’d say it’s not worth chasing down a shoplifter on moral grounds. It’s the overconsumption of resources that is immoral.
Unless he were stealing my stuff. then he should be executed.