To me your focus on your story is on the wrong people. I def. understand where you're coming from with your last paragraph and would agree ultimately not the right answer but the rest of it? The rest is focusing on people stealing cars and getting off lightly because they are minors, breaking into garages and homes but your dialogue is that of the tsking that the victims (or potential victims rather) would look for ways to defend themselves (either by locking their cars which apparently isn't always working or by other means). Would I condone defending by a gun in this case? No but that's because of my personal viewpoint. But I don't think I would tell the story as if the people breaking into cars, stealing them shipping them overseas, breaking into garages or homes are the ones I'm supposed to be sympathetic to and that's how your story reads to me (that is a personal opinion).
I mentioned that it is frightening. And I should have added that there is legislation in the works in my state, NJ, for tougher penalties for car thieves. I honestly didn't have much sympathy (and still don't) for the people who leave their car fobs in their unlocked cars. But I do have sympathy for anyone who has someone break into their home...to get a key fob to steal their car. I personally don't believe that guns are the answer.
If a thief breaks into your garage and the car doors are locked....and then venture into your house....you likely have left your inner garage door open and they are looking for that fob....which you likely left somewhere on the counter in your kitchen or in a bowl on a table by the front door
So...be aware of your surroundings, lock your doors, get a deadbolt for your doors...etc. The thieves are looking for "easy" jobs. And I work in people's homes every single day....many are home now since the pandemic, but I still go to walk their dogs...and they leave their key fobs on counters...in the kitchen or in a "key bowl" on a table near the front door....which is almost always near the unlocked inner garage door.
However, from a bigger perspective, these are teenagers who are unarmed as far as I've read/heard in all of these reported crimes....stealing cars for organized crime rings. They are teenagers from poor areas in cities in the northern part of my state who are making terrible decisions in how to "earn" money.....there's no debating that. But they are still almost always teens....kids.
The answer is not for the overwhelming number of racist baby-boomers and Gen-Xers on my next door app .....to "arm up". The "talk" on these boards is overwhelmingly racists....also no debating that for anyone who reads my local site. The answer is for tougher laws to that these kids aren't right back out doing the same thing the next night. I believe in consequences....absolutely.
I personally drive a Tesla, and I don't know why...but they don't seem to be stolen often. Range Rovers seem to the be the "car of choice". Maybe Teslas are tougher to steal because you need a "key card" to open/drive it, or more often... the person's phone....which is usually locked the moment it's not being held/used. However, if someone ran up to me in a threatening manner, or broke into my house (good luck if getting past my dogs...which are the best deterrent you can buy)....I'd unlock my phone for them, tell them the password and toss it to them.
And then I'd call the police (who would likely do nothing....not their fault, but that's how it is), followed by my auto insurance company, my bank, CC companies and Apple to order a new phone. I'd be shaken...absolutely. But I'm not going to shoot a kid in my home for stealing my car.