Theft IS criminal, but (sadly perhaps) I think it now has to be seen as relative. Even if the guy had shouted out "I'm knicking these crisps" I wouldn't have chased after him. What? risk getting stabbed for a couple of bags of crisps? No way.

If however, I saw someone stealing posessions from an elderly person then I'd probably give chase.

When shopping, my pensioner mother uses a trolley. It also provides her with additional walking support. On two occasions now, while shopping in supermarkets, unknown individuals have slipped their grubby little hands under the trolley cover and helped themselves to cash and cards from her handbag.

Quite frankly, If I'd seen them doing it, not only would I have chased them, but if I'd caught them then I would probably have ended up being arrested for GBH.

However, she recently returned home from the shops and asked me to remove something from her handbag. I assumed she meant the one that she keeps on top of the shopping in her trolley... Imagine my shock and surprise as I plunged my hand into a bag full of the most prickly holly!!! Nice one mum...