The primary reason so many crooks are caught is their own stupidity.
Yep.
Even “smart” criminals get caught. I knew a person who I believe was a sociopath.
He loved to “push the envelope” to show he could “beat the system”.
When I knew him he was dying of cancer, so perhaps he was less careful. He mostly got away with his crimes.
I recall he told me someone had asked him why he did a particular crime, because he had plenty of money, and the crime (smuggling guns) had harsh penalties.
He said he told them he got a rush from “beating the system”.
You had to be very, very careful around him. He had very little loyalty and no ethics.