Charles, I don't think too many of our members would think leaving a car unlocked and running would make the owner responsible for its theft. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif But, yes, things have really changed over the last 50 years. I was 19 years old before I ever lived in a house that had a locked door. My parents only had one key for their car; only needed one since it was never removed from the ignition switch. My dad owned a service station and the truck that delivered the gas to the service stations in the area was parked behind the station each night with a full load ready for delivery the next morning. There were no locks on the valves and the ignition key was left in the ignition switch.
Of course for many years the "experts" said for punishment to be effective, it didn't have to be severe, but needed to be "swift" and "certain". I'm afraid that's still true, but punishment now is rarely either swift or certain.