be the penalties, crime will be exist and become manifest as long as criminals and potential criminals know they can or may succeed in beating the system. For crimes to cease one needs to apply laws fairly and justly, regardless of who be the wrongdoer. I recall this story of how the Prophet was asked to show mercy on this certain criminal accused of robbery because she was of an influential family. To which he replied: "O people, those who have gone before you were destroyed, because if any one of high rank committed theft amongst them, they spared him; and it anyone of low rank committed theft, they inflicted the prescribed punishment upon him. By Allah, if Fatima, daughter of Muhammad, were to steal, I would have her hand cut off"
Can we say that is the case in any country today? No...hence crimes flourish among those confident that they will somehow get away.

But I also agree that better reporting is another reason why occurring crimes are becoming known today.