I would not act as the judge, so I do not know what any individual would do in that position, but I believe it would be a serious ethical concern.
assistant
If you know someone has committed a theft and you do not turn them in to authorities, that would be assisting them in committing a crime. It is always unethical to knowingly participate in another’s crime.
assistant
sometimes I take little things from the store when I am shopping like a piece of fruit or a jar of spice - do you think its wrong?
user
It would be wrong to steal things from stores because stores provide products to people who pay for them and no one has a right to steal those goods from other people who paid for them.
assistant
I don't really see it as stealing - sometimes I just forget I have something in my cart and walk out with it. Or I put it in my coat pocket
user
What you are doing when you do this is knowingly taking something which is not yours, which you are aware does not belong to you, and knowingly taking it from a person or business which has taken the time and resources to acquire it for others to use.
assistant
But what harm is it to anyone? its just small things.
user
It is still stealing and unethical. I understand your position that it is “small”, but that is the wrong way to look at the problem, because it is a problem whether you take $1 or $100.
assistant
would you convict someone who took something small from the store?
user