CMV: You shouldn't allow someone to walk away with your belongings when you catch them in the act of stealing.

I have a very hard time with this topic because I see both sides of it.<br><br>If you catch someone stealing your property you can take one of a couple of paths:<br><br>1) You can choose to let them go without consequence.<br>2) You can take their property back and also do something to deter them from stealing in the future (i.e. calling the cops).<br><br>Now, let's assume you are in a public space such as a store, train station, airport, etc.<br><br>**Why I think you should allow them to leave with your property without consequence**<br><br>I think this is the moral thing to do because they are stealing your property, not your identity or anything of personal value. By letting them leave with the property you are not giving them anything of value, you are just deterring them from stealing in the future. If you catch a thief in a private space you have no reason to let them leave, they are a danger to you and you have no idea what they could be hiding on their person. However, if they are in a public space the thief is already a danger to the public and you are just protecting yourself by letting them go. By not calling the cops and taking action, you are not putting yourself or others at risk.<br><br>**Why I think you should take their property back and take action**<br><br>I understand the argument that you are protecting yourself and others by taking action because the thief may have other illegal goods on their person. You also want to deter them from stealing in the future by taking action. This could be considered a "lesser of two evils" situation because if you don't take action, the thief may have stolen something else, and by not taking action, you are not putting yourself or others at risk. You also may be helping someone in need. For example, if the thief is homeless and you take your property back, you may be giving them something of value (food, clothing, etc.).<br><br>I'd like to hear your opinions on this.<br><br>&#x200B;