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Why might rule utilitarianism oppose stealing even when one theft appears helpful?

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Jeremy Bentham: auto-icon — Utilitarianism English philosopher and economist Jeremy Bentham's preserved skeleton in his own clothes and surmounted by a wax head, at University College London.

Rule utilitarianism opposes stealing, even in instances where a specific act might appear helpful, because it evaluates the morality of actions based on their adherence to general rules rather than the consequences of individual acts.12

From this perspective, a general rule prohibiting theft is justified on consequentialist grounds because such a rule is essential for maintaining the security of property and fostering social trust. If individuals were permitted to steal whenever they deemed it beneficial, the resulting erosion of security and trustworthiness would lead to negative consequences for society as a whole.12

Once a rule against stealing is established as being generally useful, rule utilitarians argue that individual acts of theft should be condemned because they violate that justifiable rule, regardless of the immediate outcome of the specific incident. This approach seeks to provide a stable moral framework that avoids the potential instability of evaluating every action on a case-by-case basis.13