I'll relay a story a friend of mine just told me.
She was at the store and noticed security had detained a person. They were going through a backpack and acussing the person of stealing cans of food. My friend went up to them and pretended to know the person. She then said "I was going to pay for these items, I must've forgot, let's go pay for them now" security reluctantly allowed her to pay for the persons items and let him go.
$22.00, was the cost to feed someone and keep them out of jail.
@mike
I admire your friend's situational savvy and swift action. I've often wondered what's the most effective way to help a person if I see this happening.