Because poor people deserve to be robbed. Or something.
Not just the poor. According to Kellly BB and the local government, one of my vehicles, a euro convertible, is only worth hundreds of dollars because of the high mileage and age and the fact that they were ubiquitous and are not (yet?) considered classics.
However, I've done a comprehensive restoration on it and there's no way it could be replaced for under 10 grand.
Just one more reason to never drive back to Cali.