I get the feeling reading those articles that there is more to the storys.
my guess the missing factor is high crime rate, and lack of Police action.
much like you seeing the similar cases around Ontario. and out west.
initial reports from teh story out west were the guy and friends had a flat tire and were looking for help. the truth was they had a flat tire in the stollen vehicle they were driving and went to the property in question to steal another one