Licenced theft
My wife, heading outbound thru Stansted some years ago at Christmas time was stopped and challenged on some new, unopened, expensive cosmetics which she (and I) thought didn't come under the liquids/creams rule.
On being told they would be confiscated, she opened the packets and emptied the contents out into the security officer's tin tray, to the outrage of the security officer. Whether he was outraged at having his tray messed up, or at losing his booty, I couldn't say - but we suspect the latter.
And don't tell me it doesn't happen. As my wife said later "if I couldn't have them I don't see why his wife should, either".