Security cameras that simply live stream?

So yesterday (29/04/19) I walk into @Rage store looking for some boots to buy for the winter. After looking around for about 15min I take a seat on one of their seats in front of a mirror and place my wallet, phone and keys beside me. Weirdly enough, I noticed two people standing behind me but didn't take note of whether they were staff members or customers. After fixing my stokings I grabbed, what I thought was my phone, wallet and keys and walked out. As I was about to make a call I notice my phone is no longer with my wallet as I usually hold them together. I rush back to the store to ask the ladies if they had not seen a Huawei P20 or if anyone had reported one. They all say no then I proceed to asking them to check their security cameras as I noticed they have them installed all over the store. One of the ladies makes the call to head office and I'm told that the 'guy' who has the codes to rewind camera footage has already knocked off therefore I would need to return the next morning.

Great! I returned to the mall first thing this morning. I first go to my service provider to see if it can't be tracked and unfortunately I'm told the phone has been wiped out and all I can do is block it. I then proceed back to @Rage store and the lady who had helped me the previous day makes the call again to head office. Today I'm given a new story: their "security" cameras simply live stream and don't record footage?... Why? None of them seem to know. Apparently someone at head office sits around all day and watches if anything goes on. Really? That's the security measure? Anyway I decided to call headoffice myself and ask to speak to the manager. They tell me the same story and that there is nothing they can do about it. But why have cameras if they're not there for the security of the store and the customers walking in? If a customer or staff member *****s merchandise from the store do they not want to have evidence? Now there is a possibility that one of their staff members could have ****** my phone and there is no avenue for me to prove that because the person who watches the camera screens all day didn't see anything? That's *******... @Rage store I need answers. Until then, I will not be entering into any of your stores again.