Well, if you "own" a house or land, you're already paying "protection money" to armed government gunthugs, to keep them from stealing it without arresting you... LOL! :)
The IRS steals money from me every week.
One thing I learned a long time ago growing up in NYC is that there is not much difference between the cops and the criminals.
Both groups are targeting you and to survive you have to make yourself scarce and keep out of dangerous situations.
Anybody stupid enough to get on a train with 16K in cash without a gun isprobably going to be sorry they did.