Toddler taking toys from other kids

I know most kids do it & it’s a phase but it is getting SO bad! He’s almost 2 & we’ve been working on it since shortly after 1, but it’s getting worse.

We are really consistent with the fact he’s not allowed to take things out of someone else’s hands, whether that’s mom & dad or another child. I TRY to stop him before he does & if he does, I ask him to give it to me & I give it back to the person who had it. If it’s a consistent problem, we do time out or have even left play groups. I TRY not to take things out of his hands to model the behavior I want, but obviously sometimes I have to for safety reasons or to enforce a “no”.

Yesterday we had a couple play group/ date things and the whole time he just wanted whatever someone else had! & he was MEAN about it! Which is new, usually he’ll try to take things, but rarely gets upset or hateful about it. Yesterday he was angry and doing it in a mean way... I’m at a loss of what else to do. I want him to play with other kids, but at this point it’s just doesn’t seem worth it.

I’m a SAHM but we are around other kids 3-5 days a week.