[GB-man]

Originally Posted by Dr.Brian

One has to pick ones battles. If I'm alone vs with my kids I will react to different situations differently. Violent crime, rape, purse snatching, visible weapons, accomplices, that's all a factor in ones interest in getting involved in situations. Painting everyone with broad strokes is ridiculous. In the situation here, someone yelling "hey stop that guy" may get a response from someone in the immediate path or doorway, but by the time anyone takes a second or two to scan the area, it's over, and it sounds like they did have accomplices running a screen for the thief. Hesitation doesn't make them bad people, it makes them smart. Respectfully I'm not risking my life for a non violent purse snatcher unless I've taken a moment to assess my own safety.
Good luck recovering it, they may be stupid enough to pawn it, post on CL (though probably in another big city), etc.
I hope it was insured.

Exactly! I'm not getting stabbed because some guy lost a watch. I have a family to think of first. I'm not a cop.

To think others are morally responsible to play vigilante is ludicrous.