Stopping smash and grab, not that hard.

IF YOU STEAL, YOU WILL BE PROSECUTED, IMPRISONED AND MAKE FULL RESTITUTION

BUSINESS OWNERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE WHATEVER FORCE IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY 

Politician seem to be bewildered by the latest lawless craze of smash and grab looting. This is just an extension of local politicians sending the message that you can take what you want without consequences. Unless firm and immediate action is taken it will escalate into complete anarchy. 

The message being sent is not only encouraging the criminal element to engage in theft and violence, but sends a message to the so far law abiding that crime pays. 

In the last few years there has been a mantra that property owners and business owners can not use force to protect their property. In effect there has been an organized effort by activists and some judges to encourage redistribution by outright theft. I am not sure there are actual laws that prohibit such protection of property, but it has become the accepted norm.

At one time if you used violent means even in your own home against an intruder you needed to prove that your life was in danger.  Many homeowners and businesses ended up being prosecuted for damages inflicted on home invaders, if they were not armed. That led to many new laws, including in Pennsylvania, called castle doctrine laws, which basically allowed force including deadly force on anyone in your home uninvited. In many places it was expanded to include stand your ground self defense if you were attacked or threatened even away from home, you just had to prove that you had reason to believe you were in physical danger. There still is a lot of opposition to these laws by some.

There was a time when bank robbers, store robbers were shot even if unarmed. It certainly led to a more law abiding society. 

As for smash and grab robberies they cannot be eliminated by the police. They are planned, organized and in and out in minutes. They are often coordinated with several attempts at different locations at the same time. I can imagine a whole city simultaneously assaulted at the same time. The police will be unable to ever deal with such a situation. 

It may be time to give business, store owners and others a similar doctrine, if you are stealing you can be shot. If you are arrested for theft you will pay full restitution, no matter if it takes the rest of your life. Society will not survive if this trend is not stopped immediately, it will result in a serious decline in economic activity, higher insurance rates and a general lack of respect for the law.