Someone stealing bread, milk, food for their children...I would let them know their actions have been noticed, but I would pay for the food and other plausible items that show a person has hit a hard spot in life. Life can get tough on anyone. Quietly paying to help someone feed their family and making them aware of community assistance to help them get back on their feet is not heroic...it is a reflection that you are a good human. . Now if I saw them stealing high end items such as electronics, alcohol, nicotine products, make-up, etcetera, then I would alert the staff which handles theft issues and let the chips fall where they may.