I have numerous times thought to myself that in case of a large earthquake I would feel no compunction about taking food from the nearby stores if I ran out. as this person points out, if you need stuff, it's in the stores with no one there even to take your money if you wanted to pay, what would you do?
granted many are taking more than what they need. if you were tempted, would you do the same? suppose you had just lost everything you own.