You should have told your girlfriend to call the cops, saying 2 guys are trying to steal my boyfriend's car and attacking him, all the meanwhile you are polishing your rim with their face. You sir, have some serious self control. I would have sent them both to the hospital.

 

I'm siding with those who think you should have at least considered doing something to discourage their behavior -- they learned that even getting caught isn't so bad.

I disagree, however, with the general tenor that this is a choice between rational and irrational behavior. (All the thumbs up for "keeping your cool"...) Best would have been to make a calm, rational decision either to call the cops, to beat the crap out them (calmly and rationally), or both, depending on how tough they looked.