I almost made a citizen's arrest today....

My instinct was right again. I think that's three for three in the past week.
Long story short, a lying thief's fate was more or less in my hands today, and I gave him a second chance.
I knew he was sketchy and loopy when he came in, so not only did I keep an eye on him but I asked Charlie to as well. Trying to steal our boots, he threw an expired ID and credit card with no funds at me as if he was paying, and bolted when I told him to wait several times.
I ran his card, knowing it would be declined, and it was. I looked at his new shoes, and decided they were pretty flashy for someone with no money...and noticed that they were a size 11, which he told me his shoe size was 9 [before he tried to grab boots].
I went in the back room to see if his ID was really him at some time or another, and googled "Laird Solsa, Incline."
What I found was that he was indeed Laird, and had also been in a high speed chase a few years ago at age 45 on methamphetamines and weed. He also, at one point, had a $25,000 warrant out for his arrest. I called Public Safety and the police to help me find this guy.
I was livid.
No one bamboozles Kari Langslet!
Anyways, we ended up getting the guy who told the police and me lie after lie after lie. The police officer, a very strong woman, put him in cuffs and was ready to take him to jail. Everyone wanted him to go to jail. He kept looking at me, pleading with his lying eyes. The officer then said that she couldn't arrest him because not only was she not present for the crime, but we had the boots back in our possession and their value did not exceed $400. She wanted to take him to jail, but told me I would have to do a citizen's arrest in order to do so.
I thought about it.
I looked at this sad, creepy, lying, grungy old man...
...and I couldn't do it.
I just couldn't.
I would feel awful.
I was shaken up but took the boots back, $36 from his wallet as if he was paying for a one day boot rental, and told him that he was never allowed in the shop again.
He looked me in the eye, thanked me, and public safety escorted him off the premises.

Everyone should get a second chance. I hope, although I know it's doubtful, that he will realize his errs and fix his life. He is on probation after all, and this could have really screwed him over. I hope he gets his life back on track. I also hope that he will do something good for someone else in return.

I hope.

This also made me wonder; my instinct has been telling me that something bad might happen to me in Israel. The only thing I can't figure out is if it's my actual instinct or just everyone's words floating around my head telling me not to go.
I trust my instinct, but I need to find out if it's my actual instinct.
As of now, my Middle East trip is still on. Should stuff go down, my Plan B is to go stay in the tree-houses in Turkey for a couple weeks and read....meditate.

Have a good day guys!