The problem is those who make a living from stealing will still get lighter sentences to those who normally don't, I knew a guy who stole cars, when caught he would have 30 cars taken into consideration and a £30 fine as not working, OK in the end he did go to prison and he did then stop.
Other friend came out of dance walked to what he thought was his Morris Minor (shows how long ago) used his key to get in and drive home and only realised it was not his car next morning, he phoned police saying he had made a genuine error asking to be put in touch with owner so he could give him the car back, Owner was understanding and both got their own cars back, but the police took him to court for driving a car without insurance so he got a £200 fine and points on his licence.
Nothing has really changed, most the cars stolen by first guy was down to the Police, there was a corrupt policeman who having caught him was getting him to steal to order or he would arrest him for theft, he really could not stop stealing cars or he would be arrested, while he was in prison the policeman got caught, so on his release he was rearrested just outside the jail for all the cars he had stolen which had not been taken into consideration.
I suspect the body cameras worn by police now reduces corruption, but end of day it is the Judge who hands out the sentence, not White Hall, and fixed fines make it worse not better, Judges need to be free to use their judgement and not have their hands tied.
Maybe the late Terry Pratchett had it right, if your going to have crime it may as well be organised crime, so a small annual donation to thieves guild and you can walk the streets in safety!!!
I do remember having soap stolen, seems petty, but I was in Algeria and their soap was it seems made from sand, so I would bring soap from home, so I reported the theft telling the camp boss in front of some locals it must be an expat stealing the soap as it contains pig fat, not a single bar went missing after that. Wonder if there is a way so looking through darkened windows in back of van it looks as if van is empty? 3D picture behind the glass?
Not sure good locks work, unless fitted as standard, all they say is there must be something worth pinching look at all those locks, I got in trouble for keeping charged capacitors in my soap draw. Mega charges them up nicely.
I get really upset when people want to leave hand bags or phones in my car on view, may as well put up a sign pinch me. All my valuable stuff was in a tool chest locked to the van, OK they could pinch whole van, but most of my losses were actually while working from inside the premises.
I lost a load of spanners, all marked, and one day spotted a guy working with my spanners, got the foreman and pointed it out, spanners were returned, however it turned out the guys brother had stolen them, and when his brother was killed in a road accident he got his brothers tools, I really wish I had kept my mouth closed.
So although I may not like the sentence handed down by a Judge, I also feel he should be free to do his job and Judge what is appropriate and not be told by government for this crime mandatory sentence is XYZ.