My personal opinion is that there is no harm in taking items off the plane for personal use (ie. for ONE persons' use only). That is, items that might normally be consumed and have no 'significant' value (ie. a bottle of Veuve Cliquot doesn't apply).
I've worked for 3 different airlines now - in various guises - and my own thoughts on this matter are thus:
SEARCH THE BAGS AND FIRE THOSE WHO ABUSE THE SYSTEM.
Sounds harsh, but I've put up with far too many people in this industry who seem to think it okay to not only steal from the company, but from colleagues as well. No lie. This does happen - klepto's do not necessarily differentiate between company and colleague property.
Now...that isn't to say that the odd soft drink or two is grand theft, or that everyone who takes a soft drink is a klepto...but I do have a problem with those who:
1) Go out of their way to remove aircraft stores BEFORE the service has been completed where it impacts on the passenger (and yes, I have seen this happen)
2) Deprive OTHER CREW of consumable goods by being selfish and taking as much as can be physically carried (like,' fall down the airstairs' carried...funny, but sad really)
3) and, (my favourite), those who steal from other crew items that were issued by the company (ie. bar floats, service badges, etc).
Let me tell you a story relayed to me by a good friend...
My friend was operating a 6 hour return day trip (2 legs) where the aircraft was double catered. All crew were flying out of home base (this part becomes relevant later)...
On arrival into their destination, the Purser went looking for the Business Class wine bottles. Strange, she thought, they're no longer there! Maybe we used them on the way up by mistake. With no catering at this port, she shrugged her shoulders and continued with the service.
Later, she had cause to go into the coat cupboard where she noticed a crew trolley bag for the first time. Odd, since it was a day trip and all crew were operating from home base! She went to shift the bag to reach another bag in the cupboard when "clink clink", she heard bottles stirring in the trolley bag.
She secretly opened up the bag, and lo-and-behold, there were the missing wine bottles, tucked nicely and neatly away inside the FA's trolley bag.
This wasn't the first time she had blatantly stolen something from the a/c - in fact, she had been caught out stealing from other crew in the past. But out of CREW LOYALTY, no-one ever did anything.
Until now.
The Purser pulled aside all the crew one by one, except for the 'suspect', and told them what she'd found. All were shocked, but not surprised. Some were angry, because (as mentioned before), this wasn't the first time.
On landing into home port, everyone disembarked quite normally, including the tea-leaf and her trolley bag. When...
Oh dear...the manager of cabin crew was waiting at the end of the aerobridge with airline security!
All were escorted into a private room, where all crew were made to open their bags...Then came the tea-leafs turn to open her bag...
"You can't make me. I want the union present"
"Ok, we'll wait for the union"
Time and pressure...time and pressure...
Zzzzzzipp...
"ID please..."
And alas, alack, the thief was asked to resign.
Point of this story - don't go stealing things that you could pay for out of your own pocket. Ask yourself next time:
"Is my job worth it?"
I know it's a bit off topic, but airlines here in Australia are MAD about this. Theft (however innocent) is not tolerated whatever the excuse.
Beware everyone...