Yesterday( Saturday) I caught a thief robbing the mother in laws shop. She has one of these old fashioned open front shops. The thief was emptying the cash register as I walked in. Asked him who he was. He tried to run. To cut it short I caught him outside pinned him down and waited for the neighbors to call the police. The police arrived and took him away. Well, I could go on about paperwork and everything else but the thing is. TODAY ( Sunday) , while the family was out for dinner, the thief came back to ge his safety helmet. Just calmly went in to the neighbors and said he wants his helmet back. Now I have to point out that on Saturday this thief had a great big screwdriver as a weapon and to top it all off now of course everybody says I should have just let him go as it was only money. To be honest I am really confused and angry at the moment. Do I now have to go and buy a gun to protect myself…
Oh we phoned the police and they said we should give him his helmet but to phone them if he comes again.
Now there’s a nice one. 
The cognitive dissonance required to actually think that the thief’s got a right to the helmet.
I would throw his helmet at his head. Buy a monster wrench & a stun stick. If you can ever pin him down again, rifle thru his pockets, and lift something of his.
Dont get mad, get even.
But that’s just my primitive celtic instincts. I would weigh how connected said thief looks from his appearance & bearing. Explore whatever local neighborhood connections that may be available. Often these things can be ironed out by the local lads. Just don’t rely on the police, in any event.
That’s my advice anyway. Sorry to hear about what is a shite situation all around.
shit in the helmet before returning
give him the helmet, and a kick in the ass on the way out the door.
Give him the helmet, take his photo as you’re doing so.
Tell him you’ve got his name and address from the cops, and if you ever see him again, you’re going to print up posters saying, “Thief” and plaster them around your neighbourhood and his.