[peppermint_gum]

> AFAIK, there is reasonably clear evidence that deterrence has a very low impact on this sort of crime,

Could you share some of this evidence?

[PaulDavisThe1st]

first result from google come for "effect of deterrence on property crime"

https://www.house.mn.gov/hrd/pubs/deterrence.pdf

second result, summarizes and links to several review papers:

https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/five-things-about-deterr...

[peppermint_gum]

Then I'm not sure what you mean by "deterrence". Both of the linked articles argue against increasing the severity of punishment, but they also say that the certainty of getting caught is a strong deterrent.

This doesn't seem to be in conflict with what the GP said ("supporting laws and politicians that catch and punish criminals effectively"). It seems to me that many people have a problem with thieves not being punished at all.