I know of at least two local businesses that, if you are in need, will help you if you ask. Protect your local businesses. Corporations don't need any extra help.
Are there situations where if you see something you should run interference? Or is that probably just going to cause more problems?
Like, if someone's stealing infant formula or something and you can help prevent the Karen next to you from noticing, maybe it's worthwhile. Just make conversation with Karen about the weather or just subtly angle your body to block Karen's view just long enough for the other person to get away.
Then again, there are definitely situations where that's likely to draw more attention than it's worth. Definitely worth thinking before acting.
Ever notice at the check out of any store (grocery, electronic, whatever store) that when there is an error with your bill, it more often than not over charges you! .... rather than under pricing everything?
Also at grocery stores they will promote and push all kinds of specials and discounts that take pennies off a product .... but often there is confusion at the check out where you are put on the spot in front of a crowd of people to argue for fifty cents off of a loaf of bread, then 60 cents off a can of beans, and 80 cents off your laundry soap. Most people will either not buy these things give them at the check out but many people will just accept the price or even just not question anything and not even notice that they didn't get the sale price. There is a culture of looking down on penny pinching coupon people.
Yet no one ever thinks of the grocery store corporation that penny pinches each customer .... if you add up those pennies, it would add up to hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars of savings for the grocery store.
We make fun of each other for being cheap .... but no one ever thinks of the corporation that cheaps out on us pennies at a time.
I'm not a cop, not my problem.