It shocks me how often I see it, or evidence of it (rain soaked clothes and books, strewn half-way up the street), and I have to say: how low can you go? The latest example was this morning: a couple of well-dressed young professionals on a Sunday stroll helping themselves to stuff outside Marie Curie Cancer Care.
I tell myself that it's really the fault of the people who leave goods outside shop opening hours - and that (cashed up yuppies aside) no one would really want to be in a position where they felt that had to steal from a cancer charity ... but I think I am just trying to make up for the fact I have never once had the backbone to give them old-fashioned what-for with my handbag (or just have words) when I have seen it happen.
As I spend hours afterwards quietly fuming, I fondly remember a case in Australia years ago when someone was caught at it on a Sunday ( a churchwarden or some such, no less!), and ended in court and with his photo in all the papers . That felt about right to vengeful old me...