If you steal a TV, yeah honestly. There's a difference between stealing food or money to feed yourself or provide for your family and stealing luxury goods. I have lots of sympathy for the former, very little for the latter. The latter is a form of terrorism meant to intimidate businesses many of whose owners are likely members of your own community.
I don't understand the modern desire to excuse theft. Theft is a form of terrorism; it is not okay, and is really high up there on the list of serious crimes that damage society.