I stopped a shoplifter that was making a run for it once. He was flying through the store heading for the exit. A couple of mall cops were chasing him. I didn't do anything big, just jumped in front of him and blocked him from the exit. Cops came up, grabbed him, and didn't say thank you, kiss my ass, or anything, just turned around and walked off with him.
Know that you did good, but also know that you could have been hurt in the process. I guess it gets down to an individual decision on what to do. I know that I won't be chasing anyone a couple hundred yards across an icy parking lot again (as if I even could ;~), but I guess that if I could stick out a foot and trip the SOB, I still would.
I really do hate thieves, be they Bernie Maddof or stupid dopers who will steal anything that ain't nailed down.
Both destroy our trust in our fellow humans and make society harsher as a result.
That is why the 10 Commandments says 'thou shall not steal".
I really do hate thieves. They don't steal from the store. They steal from all of us.