From his blog:So no one took much notice when a rather drunk girl collapsed in a seat for a while and then got up and drifted off, seemingly looking for a toilet. However, she had left her bags behind and never came back for them.
Once we assumed she had alighted from the train, the phone in her bag began ringing incessantly. Assuming it might be her, I eventually answered it and assured a friend of hers that she had been on the train and hopefully got off at the correct stop. I said that if she didn’t come back for her bags, I would hand them in to Guildford Station last-and-found where she could easily collect them.
So I went back to my seat
Naturally, I’ve already re-played the whole thing in my head countless times, but I’m happy that I didn’t resort to physically stopping him, or kicking his bike etc. If someone was defending my lost phone, I wouldn’t want them to risk violence. But I’m kicking myself for not moving sooner or putting the bag somewhere safer. So yeah: lots of yelling, all of it ineffectual.
Citizens arrest may no exist in law but he could have arrested the thief.
https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q508.htm
Specifically -
A lot of internet hard men on here. Guess you'd have all beaten the little skank up, huh?
I think he did a great job, and stayed out of any physical trouble. It's not worth it for a phone. You start something, the thief pulls a knife, what do you do then?
Citizens arrest may no exist in law but he could have arrested the thief.
https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q508.htm
Specifically -
Yep.
To avoid being stabbed by criminals, it is always best to shout at them annoyingly and threaten to upload pictures of them onto the Internet instead.
Seriously dude, if he had a knife or something then he would have used to to take the phone of the guy recording him and remove any evidence.
The guy should have been discreet when photographing that scumbag. I can't help but think That part of him was simply trying to be the hero.
What a dick, you could have at least taken it off him though.
What a dick, you could have at least taken it off him though.
I suppose you're right.
I'd of knocked **** out of him, but I wouldn't think any less of anyone who adopted this approach.