are you saying there is no record of a conviction for stealing in Aus?
Depends on what you steal but for a minor indiscretion such as this yes, you would have no recorded conviction a bit like being give one chance, which I don't think is the reason for society 'spiralling out of control' as you put it. Poor education systems, corrupt politicians and corporate greed are far more to blame than someone knicking a bloody octopus machine from Maccas I would have thought. It was a stupid thing to do but that's all it was, who did he hurt? How about a bit of perspective.
Would I be right
abc1 that you are a tee totaller?