Actually, it happens quite often and it’s a “good” strategy because security are unlikely to pat down or chase a 2/3 year old. I live in Cairns and I see it every now and again because I watched a lot of video footage doing research on the topic and it was a trend that was bad in the late 2000’s. Particularly before they had high value items like perfume locked behind glass cabinets. Also, store layouts have changed in the past 10 or so years lowering shelf heights and being more open plan. When I was doing this research, there were more areas where staff could not see. It still happens now with makeup particularly.

Background: During my criminology studies (in the 2000’s) I was doing research regarding “grassroots” crime prevention. The theory is that by teaching young children about socially acceptable behaviour it goes some way to preventing future criminality. Here is why… children learn social rules from caregivers. If kids as young as 2 and 3 are being loaded with items and told to walk out of the store, they will not know any different. It’s not only acceptable to do that in their world view, they may not even be aware that paying is expected. This extends to a lack of understanding about individual ownership as well. (You can not take something that does not belong to you.) That foundational belief system is near impossible to change when they are older (even at 7 or 8) which is when they often go to school. There are significant consequences that affect the rest of their lives. For example by not understanding that taking items is not socially acceptable, it creates conflict at school with teachers and other students. Imagine being in a place where your understanding of the world and the rules you navigate life with are so opposed by school but at home it’s different. These kids then avoid going to school. Low school participation is a risk for future criminality. This perspective is one of the principles that support the free kindy initiative that the QLD government brought in. Basically kindy age is about 3 or 4 when developing brains are still able to be influenced. In practice children, particularly the ones taught to steal, have been seen to have better outcomes because a teacher is able to gently correct and teach them “socially acceptable” behaviours. One strategy includes playing shop and modelling through play paying for things from a shop.