As a former retail manager of 22 yrs, I can tell you that is the policy of many stores. Bag, purse, packpack & locker searches can be done at anytime & often are done as the employees leave. There are a lot of small & expensive items in all stores & employee theft is the major form of theft and the most costly for all companis. Most employees have to sign a statement agreeing to searches before they are hired. Some store search in front of cameras each day.
At one store I worked at, over all retail theft cost us $100,000 a yr!!!!!!