I'm not about to "blame the victim." I agree whole-heartedly with Miss Congeniality: We need stronger penalties for parole violators!
Yet ... let's look at this from a different perspective.
The "Church" has a doctrine that says we all are subject to temptation. So, now I ask: What make YOU want to steal?
For myself, I find I have a real attraction to "shiny things." I can go into a store, having just parked a truck full of screwdrivers .. but as soon as I see the nice shiny new packaged screwdrivers offered for sale, I want one! (No, I don't steal ... but the desire to 'get one' is there).
I suspect that merchants know this, and that is the real reason so much attention is paid to packaging and display.
Now, let's apply that to our problem. I have had great success in using stuff that is dull, ugly, marked, and of obscure brand.
I seem to hold onto stuff longer when it is either displayed so well that an empty slot really stands out, or when it's not displayed at all. That fancy plastic red box that says "Milwaukee" seems to 'walk away' a lot quicker than the old army ammo can that REALLY has the tool in it.
I have even used the opposite tack: painting aluminum pipe wrenches "cast iron orange" .... and I couldn't GIVE them away!
Then there is the matter of effort. If crooks wanted to work, they'd have jobs. Hefty locks, screened windows, etc., all say "work required." The casual, impulsive, idle hands will move on.
A lot is to be said for both the neighbors and the police. My area has LOTS of transients ... but neighbors look out for each other, so the transients behave. The police, on the other hand, seem to "reduce" crime by keeping you from reporting it.
It has been said that 'poverty breeds crime.' I believe that this saying has it exactly backwards. I hold that crime breeds poverty.
Why strive for nice things if they'll only be taken away?
Prevention - Deterrence - Alarm - Response - Action. This is our 'ladder' of activity. I think we can agree that it's best to stop things as early as possible on this ladder.
My area isn't as bad as some say. I have to go now ... I have a second job ... as tail-gunner on a bread truck