It isn’t to get away with shoplifting. It’s to avoid being executed without even a trial over shoplifting. They’re going to try to kill you no matter what you do in that scenario; might as well try to get out with your life.
Let me put in a scenario you might understand. Mobsters are regularly jumping in front of cars, shooting the person driving, and then stealing the car. A mobster jumps in front of your car and points a gun at your head. What do you do?