As I was going into the dollar store a large black man came running out with a bunch of merchandise and dollar store employees chasing him and yelling at him. He shoved one of them and she fell to the ground.
I followed him and two blocks later came across a police officer in his car fooling with what looked like his personal phone. I knocked on his window and pointed out the guy and told him that he had just robbed the dollar store. The police officer said, “Can’t you see that I am busy?” I pointed out the guy again and repeated that he had just robbed the dollar store. He replied angrily, “If you don’t stop harassing me, I will arrest you.”
I worked with the police for 25 years and had met other officers just as bad, so I just dropped it. But there are obviously other places where they take this type of thing more seriously.
Man! I could tell you of many similar experiences I've had with police here in New York City, informing them of a crime and/or suspicious activity only for them to brush it off, for one reason or another, or pretending to listen/respond, then going off in the opposite direction from the activity. It has happened many times.
You could have stopped him with $100 dollar bill and a stout brass headed cane.
Drop the money in his path when he stoops down to grab it.
WHAMMMO!