@Offset Entity - I'm glad the cane has been helpful for you. I have a folding cane/seat that I use when I need to sit down (due to orthostatic intolerance, dropping blood pressure issues). I also had a bit of an adjustment using it regularly.
But I'm so sorry that people are being so intrusive. Taking your cane away from you? That's an absolute no-no!
I have had lots of people ask me about my folding seat/cane but no one has ever tried to take it from me.
People can often be very bad about respecting boundaries.
Again, I'm so sorry that this is happening. I do understand how this can happen so fast that you don't realize it until it's too late.
But now that you have had it happen a few times I would avoid getting within arm's length of anyone who seems overly interested in your cane or in teaching you how to use it. It seems like it would help to keep them as far enough away as you can so that they can't touch the cane. Just a thought. I'm sure it's hard to remember all this since the cane is still so new.
Sending you hugs!