At least partly, maybe.
I'll be honest: I fantasize fairly regularly about being a "hero" and "saving the day", like stopping a shooter or something like that, cuz I'm just so, so desperate for my life to have meaning or a purpose. I just feel like if I did a heroic act like that, maybe I'd finally feel at peace, that I had finally fulfilled my "purpose" and "reason for being here".
I don't support tackling shoplifters or anything like that just to clarify, I just think I might understand at least a little bit why someone would feel motivated to do so.
It's a way for them to feel like a hero, but without putting themselves at too much risk because stopping shoplifting is approved by the status quo so everyone but the shoplifter is on your side in that situation, including a heavily militarized police force. Sure the shoplifter might be dangerous, but you have the other customers, the staff and the law protecting you, so it is a much, much more dangerous situation for the shoplifter.