Terrible what happened here. But I disagree when you say that the police do not do anything about it. I know for a fact that they take these things seriously and a lot of theft items are actually recovered but their owners never show up, in fast it's statements like these that make people not report a crime however small it is.
I saw a room full of recovered items at the police: Mobile phones, Jewelery. Obvisouly nothing with a victim's identity.
I also disagree with the notion that people steal because they are poor or have no jobs. I'm sure some will do if they are desperate but a thief is a thief because they are sick and actually, that's my personal opinion they should be treated for kleptomania.