I remember the garbage strike in in NYC years ago. One person found the best way to get rid of his garbage was to place it in a box, wrapped as a present, leave it in his car seat with the windows rolled down and then walk around the block. When he returned the package of garbage was always gone.
The problem is when you do not punish thieves, you get more of them.
You get to point, as in S.F., where they are so prevalent and brazen, that punishing them becomes a very difficult undertaking.
That is why "broken windows" policing is important and works.