Do you honestly think he cares? He is someone nobody cares about and he knows it. He knows what risk it is to steal but can he do otherwise? Nope. He only has himself and no one else so he doesn't care about anything that happens to him. He's just a "puppet". So I don't think he did it on purpose. Ido doesn't care about him. He won't feel betrayed. He could even save a spot in jail for him without second thoughts. So you should see why saying this is wrong :).
He knows it's wrong. The main character a thousand percent knows that's stealing is wrong. We can see his thoughts so we know he knows it's wrong.
Don't do things you know are wrong.
It's good advice and it will serve you well in your life. It's what I want for the main character. We know he's going to steal. We know what's going to happen. I don't want him to, I don't want him to steal. I don't want him to do things that he knows are wrong. I don't understand why that's a controversial opinion.
Well no one should steal of course and he knows it as well. But he can't not do it because of his father. If he doesn't do it he'll get beaten up to death. All the outcomes will be the same. I'm not trying to defend stealing but I'm just saying that he has no other choice :)
OMG don't steal! Don't do things you know are wrong!