I've had tools stolen, even from the base hobby shop of all places! I've had my "STI" center-caps from my BBS wheels taken out, though luckily the wheels were left alone. My gf's sister in high school had the OEM wheels on her 2nd gen Mitsubishi Eclipse stolen; we came out to her car teetering on two cinder-blocks. I've been keyed in city where I know no one. I had my newish bike stolen off of a hidden deck the one weekend I went away and forgot to lock it; etc.
There's only so much you can, such as making sure things are latched and locked, but there's also a certain level of trust you have in your surroundings. I wasn't surprised by some of the losses I had in the past, based on where I was and its proximity to people of lower socio-economic means (and morals, apparently), but some of my losses occurred in very unlikely places, such as on-base.
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For those of you who have shed(s) out in your yard: how easy would it be to break in and steal the likely valuable things you have in there? I'd bet that most of us would be out a grand or more in tools and equipment if a thief with some bolt-cutters came through a "safe" neighborhood one night. I'm honestly surprised I don't hear about it more often.
There are no consequences for property crimes. It's a trend around our Country.
God Bless Texas...in that state you can defend your car and other property with deadly force, unfortunately those are the only consequences that many thieves will ever understand, and I fully support paying the ultimate price for stealing cars, TVs, ect... The only sympathy I have is if a poor person steals a loaf of bread and some cold cuts.
How are you to know what that poor person is going through as you gun him or her down for petty stealing from you? Seems a bit extreme to WANT to kill someone over petty theft. I've honestly had feelings of wanting to beat the poop out of someone when I find someone of mine stolen, but NEVER have I ever felt that they should be killed over it.