I recently hit my one-year mark at a mid-sized company in the US, which is owned by a larger Japanese firm, and I received an unexpected call from HR. They informed me that I was under investigation for theft, and they have video evidence. The situation stems from a free ice cream day the company held last month. Afterward, they stored the ice cream freezers in the cafeteria, and one of them was left unlocked with no signs or monitoring. I took a few ice creams, genuinely thinking they were still free, and I even mentioned this to my coworkers, who likely did the same. Now, I'm facing potential disciplinary action, ranging from a warning to termination, depending on HR's discretion. My manager, who has been with the company for 25 years, believes I won't face severe consequences and has expressed support for me. However, I'm terrified of being labeled a thief and the impact it might have on my coworkers. I have enough savings to get by, and I have decent qualifications, but I truly enjoy my job and the company culture. I've heard horror stories of employees being let go for minor infractions, and I'm unsure about the precedent for this type of situation at my company. I'm left wondering if I should start job hunting now or if I'm overreacting. Any advice or comfort would be appreciated.