Is it normal that i prefer that they would ask rather than just take?

Where I work I make cookies almost on a daily basis for kids and residents at a nursing home. I happen to be the baker there.

For a while there I let the other co-workers who are the cooks there take cookies without asking. There had been a couple times where about half a dozen would be gone.

So last week I had told them: Hey "I" would appreciate it if you could ask next time, I'm willing to give you one. He said well... everybody steels cookies here. I guess it became a habit there. They are upset and think it's ridiculous to ask and yet I normally offer them cookies when I have extras too.

I make them for the residents and kids and hardly eat them myself.

I do not find it respectful to take something someone had taken the time to make without asking. I would choose not to do it myself.