Ethics of eviction personal property grab

[glatt]

I went for a walk today and a high end downtown apartment was clearly being cleaned out in an eviction. Lots of very nice expensive stuff was being left on the curb by low paid sweaty workers. This is during the work day, so the tenant is clearly not home to try to save the stuff.

What are the ethics of taking the stuff off the curb? Assume for the sake of argument that some of it is pretty valuable and desirable and portable. Think nice shiny clean musical instruments.

I was tempted, but partly I was on auto-pilot to keep walking, and also there were people standing around watching, and then there's the idea that you are taking part in kicking someone while they are down. Can I live with myself doing that? Can I enjoy the stuff if I take it?

On the other hand, when I walk by there in a couple hours after work, all the expensive stuff will clearly be gone and only the large furniture and crap will remain. If I don't take it, someone else will.