Cops and the judges work for the government and that dominates their thinking. The cost of keeping a prisoner in jail, in Canada , IS UNBELIEVABLY EXPENSIVE. FEDERAL INMATES COST OVER $100k PER ANNUM. THROWING THEM IN JAIL FOR $2-3 k WORTH OF PROPERTY IS NOT WORTH IT TO THEM, or to us. Insure your stuff and don't leave your really valuable stuff in plain sight.