This is definitely a case where “Issue a heartfelt apology along with a $100 gift card” would be appropriate.
I’ve dealt with this a lot at political conventions, where we have lots of pens at the sign-in tables. Many used to walk away.
Here’s a solution that takes care of it, mostly.
Use only the stick type pen. Remove the caps on top, and store them separately, hidden somewhere behind the table. Now the customer has only the stick pen, without a top. You’ll still see many people absent-mindedly start to put one in their pocket, then realize it has no top, look for the top, then remember that the pen belongs back on the table, and put it back there.
I can’t see any defense for stealing.
A person who will pocket a pencil will pocket a pocket calcultor sitting next to it.
The contractor has probably stolen many things threre, but is insulted because he thought he knew the level of their security and he was wrong.
Just so we’re clear about my feelings FUCK YOU!
To claim that the man “has probably stolen many things” is an assholish presumption. Obviously you’re a person exempt from momentary lapses of thought, absent of malice, unlike the rest of us schlubs. :wally
We’ve slipped two ounces of crack-cocaine into danceswithcats’s cranberry sauce today. Let’s see if she notices.
She’ll be even more surprised by the sex-change operation. So will her friends. 
Really. I’ve gotten so used to this penis and testicles after all these years. Must I give them up?
Time to carve the turkey.
So to speak.
My bad, I didn’t know. I’ll make a note that you do in fact carry the total package. I’ll try to remember, honest!
No hurt, no foul. RTFirefly has met me IRL and was therefore reasonably certain of my junk. 
Pencils: The gateway loot.
Perhaps Hung Mung thought that you had absent-mindedly put said junk in your pocket?
Yeah, THAT’S the ticket.
He was probably using the pencil to skecth his plans for shoplifting a refrigerator and set of cabinets.
Scumbag. They should have shot him on sight.
-Joe
Theft is theft and stealing a pencil is as morally wrong as stealing someones wallet. Why should the shop tolerate it. It’s all very well to argue a de minimis approach to the subject but if so then at what point does ‘oversight’ become theft. Two pencils three four…
They should have reported him to the police and had him prosecuted even if he did give them regular custom. It might well stop him stealing in the future.
Good lord, I hope they don’t let this guy anywhere near a forest.
In case you didn’t read all of the thread posts before you, lumber pencils are frequent giveaway items at lumber yards here in the states-I don’t know about such practice in Scotland-you’d have to comment thereon.
Since the morality tub is being thumped-here’s one to ponder: Customer A absentmindedly pockets a used pencil which would have sold for 10 cents when new. Customer B buys a $200 rotary hammer and uses it for one job rather than go to Tool Rent R Us, and then returns it (now used and unsaleable) for his money back. Who stole more from the vendor? In case you think I’m posing a red herring, a friend who used to work for Home Despot has told tales such that for every Customer A, there are 5 Customer Bs.
Well, I’m glad that the employee didn’t get fired, as he shouldn’t be for following policy. But based only on the info at hand, I’d never make him a manager either, as his initiative and sensitivity to context seems to be nonexistent.
As for the guy taking the pencil, the story said it was a matter of absentmindedness. As such, it would have been enough to simply ask for the pencil back, though I wouldn’t have bothered.
Oh, and I wouldn’t quit using Home Depot based on that incident, especially considering the apology and such. shit happens.
I quit HD, but well before this inane bruhaha.
I simply get better, warmer and more intelligent service at my local Bethel Handyman than at Home Depot. It’s an ACE Hardware franchise, but the people there give a damn and they know their stuff.
I agree with the previous Dopers who say that the fool who started this fiasco isn’t managerial material. Give that man a broom.