What is wrong with people these days?

Raging about this if I'm honest! Mi mam this morning witnesses some bloke today (she reckons about 22 years old) stealing from some market traders in barnsley center today and as she's watching him do it he sees her and shouts 'what the **** are you staring at? I'll ****ing knock you out'. What sort of place are we living in where people see this as normal behaviour? She phones the police and as they were 'really busy' they couldn't come to the scene but want to take a statement on Tuesday? ****ing ridiculous, there's no wonder people take the law into their own hands. Raging.