Most often an employee caught stealing is just fired. If there's significant value involved perhaps the police would get a call.

Telling an employee to clock out and keep working is a labor law violation, that's not just a civil matter. It happens, but often with the agreement of the employee. I.e. "I know you're about to hit overtime, so if you clock out I'll give you cash, otherwise I have to send you home."

The point is the police will take a complaint in the case of employee theft.

And the "agreement" of the employee is utterly meaningless because it's not a negotiation between equals. Coercion is more accurate.

> labor law violation, that's not just a civil matter

So people go to jail over it? It goes on their criminal record and comes up in background checks?

> I'll give you cash

This part sounds like pure fantasy. And the cash would be less than overtime pay (otherwise why even make the offer) so it's still wage theft.

> if you clock out I'll give you cash

Yes, but on what planet?