stylemeup
Senior Member
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2008
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- 369
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Twice in my life now I have seen a thief running as fast as he can towards me with a bag that he just stole in his hands, with his victim chasing him like 20 feet behind and screaming at the thief. One time it was on the subway platform, presumably with a guy who left his bag at his feet or something and then the thief grabbed it and ran just as the train stopped and up the stairs and out of the station way before the victim could catch him; he got away. There was a parking officer right outside and the victim went and told him about what happened.
The other time it happened right on the street in the most rich district in the city near the main intersection of the city.; presumably that victim left his bag at his feet at a cafe or something and then the thief grabbed it. That thief just ran right across the street in the midst of traffic and his victim wasn't able to follow, thus he got away too. The victim in that case pulled out his cellphone after he realized he couldn't follow the thief into the oncoming traffic, presumably to call the police about this.
I did not intervene in these cases even though I probably could have tripped the thieves or punched them in the stomach or something. Because I figured I have no way to be 100% sure they aren't friends joking around with each other, I have no way to know what kind of weapons the thief has on him, I have no way to know if the victim is gonna help me and join in if I get into a fist fight with the thief, I don't know what the legal consequences would be if say I punched the thief in the stomach or tripped him as he was running by me, and I'd be putting myself in danger for a total stranger and wouldn't get anything out of it other than a "good going" and pat on the back or something.
I kind of feel bad for doing nothing to stop the thieves. On the other hand, it doesn't seem worth it to intervene. It would seem that thieves count on other bystanders to do nothing and they seem to have very good running/evasion rather than combat skills. I guess most people simply do nothing for similar reasons why I didn't? Then again, maybe thieves have some combat skills too?
What would you all do in situations such as this?
The other time it happened right on the street in the most rich district in the city near the main intersection of the city.; presumably that victim left his bag at his feet at a cafe or something and then the thief grabbed it. That thief just ran right across the street in the midst of traffic and his victim wasn't able to follow, thus he got away too. The victim in that case pulled out his cellphone after he realized he couldn't follow the thief into the oncoming traffic, presumably to call the police about this.
I did not intervene in these cases even though I probably could have tripped the thieves or punched them in the stomach or something. Because I figured I have no way to be 100% sure they aren't friends joking around with each other, I have no way to know what kind of weapons the thief has on him, I have no way to know if the victim is gonna help me and join in if I get into a fist fight with the thief, I don't know what the legal consequences would be if say I punched the thief in the stomach or tripped him as he was running by me, and I'd be putting myself in danger for a total stranger and wouldn't get anything out of it other than a "good going" and pat on the back or something.
I kind of feel bad for doing nothing to stop the thieves. On the other hand, it doesn't seem worth it to intervene. It would seem that thieves count on other bystanders to do nothing and they seem to have very good running/evasion rather than combat skills. I guess most people simply do nothing for similar reasons why I didn't? Then again, maybe thieves have some combat skills too?
What would you all do in situations such as this?