jomifl - "andy,
/You are persistently arguing that anyone guilty of a theft is culpable/
I'm sure you didn't really mean that."
Did I mean that this is your stance?
Absolutely I meant it.
The entire thrust of your argument is that people who are victims of theft are, to a greater or lesser degree, partners in the crime because they did not take sufficient precautions.
My point is that people should reasonably expect their property and person to be safe regardless of what you perceive as their personal failings in facilitating a crime against them.
I repeat - if you are going to suggest that people are negilgent, and therefore responsible for a crime against them, then you are offering mitigating circumstances in the defence of the criminal.
'I didn;t oughta 'ave taken it guv, but it was sorta there, lookin' at me, beggin' to be nicked ...'
I don't think that's going to fly as a defence - even you you apparently do.