Don't get the slant of the article. If anything, all the commotion would've been a distraction that made it easier to steal, and she was spotted and stopped by security not police, so at that point, police were coming whether they were 10 minutes away or 20 seconds.
Possibly the police presence at the store caused her to not try to flee from the loss prevention agent, or it could have been that she was caught anyway because of her vehicle, the license plate. Police presence could have made her extra paranoid and her resultant behavior made her look more suspicious.
The stupidity was trying to steal at all, especially a coat. There are places that needy people can get a winter coat for free.