If someone stole my legel anything I wouldnt call the cops, I would take care of it. This varies depending on where you live, but must often these days people dont care about other people, that includes cops, and certainly you are a perfect example. It would be a case number that goes on file, we'll let you know if anything comes up, they put minimal time into it due to bigger cases and lower budgets, (Which is good sometimes, but remember, the Police department is a business, it fines you for everything to make money, and cops are only human. Only for the good of you and your family? If everyone lived like that this world would be shit, oh wait, we're watching it happen, and it is turning to shit. No one cares about anyone else or how what they do effects them. Your not doing anything for the welfare of you or your famly. Your intentionally seeking revenge on a guy you THINK did something that technically isnt even wrong, (By that I mean taking some plants that dont actually belong to you that arent actually on your property that you showed him where they were), by ruining his life and gaining absolutely nothing from it, certainly nothing for you or your family. I'm no perfect example, I cross the line more often then I should, but I do it face to face, with clear intention and there is no guessing what point it is I am trying to make. I always know that I stood up for what I thought (at the moment) was the right thing. Turns out anger makes us think we are right all too often, in the end, it was just a stupid emotion. I am sorry for your loss of plants, but you did make it easy for the guy. Everyone has a point of temptation, though most good citizens can resist, some easier then others, just like locks, they are only to keep the honest people honest, if someone wants in, they find a way in. You left your door unlocked.
As for your contribution to the "cause" your right in that it should be legal, and we'll get there, will just take a little while, but calling the cops for stealing your plants is not a contribution, its just one more victory for them.
And about kicking his ass, its not the answer for everyone, even way big dudes, even way big dudes that can fight, I have a pal who is UFC fighter yet I never seen him pick or get in a fight for any reason outside the ring. Even if I start a fight or get involved at one in the local pub, he may pull someone off me, or stop me, but even when he gets hit, he doesnt hit back, says its not a sport anymore, its just hate and anger and he has never took that feeling and made it physical. Then there are guys more like me, I have no problem smacking people around if the situation calls for it. Insult me to my face in a bar, I would fight, no word exchange, sometimes get my ass beat, sometimes not, but it only happens once. I see the guy again, even if he beat my ass, and all is fine, I stood up, we settled it, it seldom occurs again, though there are exceptions. Thats my anger issue and fortunetly not a ton of people are like that, Im working on it. The point is, you are now part of the magority, a group of people that dont care for other. Just you and your family? The world needs your help man. Here's how much people dont care...And this is not the only example that I have but its a good one..
Last week I borrowed my girlfriends car to run some errands, so I ride up to her work, drop off the harley, take her car, do what I gotta, then go back and swap. She only works a few miles from where we live. Its a wealthier neighborhood, I dont have money, but she does, lucky me. Shes about a bunch cars behind and a few blocks from my house a BMW sunnabotch drives up the single lane next to my bike trying to blow by me. IN A SINGLE LANE, this is not a two lane highway or anything, a car comes in the opposite direction he jerks to the right, pushes my bike off the road at 50mph into a bus sign. Helmet snaps off (Piece of shit) and I take off like a super hero and the bike flips twice in the air. The sign besides being torn out is actually split in two, like splitting a hair, I was MANGLED. Still am a bit. She could see the accident from way back there. The cars stopped long enoughfor the bike parts to stop moving around, wouldnt want to damage thier precious beamers, and THEN DRIVE ON!!! Im piled up in the street, blood everywhere, no helmet on with a smashed up bike they just saw crash and every single car went by. The guy two cars before my girlfriend got there yelled out the window, hey man, hope your alright, would call 911 but phone is dead, he said that while rollling by. We were there a while before I could get up and check myself, I dont do hospitals and doctors anyway if I can avoid it, but not a single person even called. Unbelievable.. The were probably rushing to the store for something THEY needed, or rushing home to thier family to try and make dinner. Not a care for anyone else on the planet. The only peace of mind in that is that once they are broke down, hurt, in an accident, in harms way they will realize what its like to know that few people give a shit about whether you live or die, and perhaps it give them a new perspeective on things. I stop for every car on the side of the road, granted it freaks people out a loud Harley and a leathered up dude, but I have been of assistence many times, and always would. there are a few out there, but the world changed in a hurry.
Anyway, your gonna rmake your call anyway cause your a rat, and it will catch up with you, its just as bad as a thief for sure, many would say worse.