To catch a thief

Good grief, what is this country coming to?

You read something and you just shake your head in shame and disgust.

Like the story about the 75-year-old man in Stuart, Fla., who was robbed of his new laptop computer and printer while coming out of a Best Buy.

I know what you’re thinking: The poor old guy was just trying to learn about this newfangled Internet. Then some young punk — age 29, in this case — comes along and rips him off, not even caring that he probably used his Social Security check to buy the stuff.

No, my friends, that is not what disgusts me about this story.

What really ticks me off is … the old fella chased down the young hoodlum and held him until cops could arrive!

The pinhead couldn’t even outrun a geezer more than twice his age! Or struggle away from him once he was nabbed! And — oh, the humanity — he made it only 8 feet before grandpa collared him!

Folks, we are in serious trouble when young criminals are in such bad shape that they can’t even take down senior citizens.

What is the future of crime in this country if the next generation of lawbreakers is so fat and lazy that they can’t commit the most basic offenses?

Will purse-snatchings become a thing of the past? Will gang-bangers be forced to hold signs at intersections reading, “Will rob for food … if it’s not too hard.” Will exciting chase scenes disappear from our movies because the criminal community can’t uphold its end of the bargain — i.e., the fleeing part?

… Please, Lord, take me before it comes to pass.