The world is upside down - if criminals consider themselves to be the hunters and we are the vulnerable and very easy, defenseless prey.
That school of thought needs to be changed.
What happens when the police and courts themselves become dominated by criminals? They turn other criminals loose and punish anyone who fights back. Your civilization is then doomed.
The term “petty criminal is a false one. The Hollywood depiction of criminals who only commit big crimes and then live honestly as long as they have money is also a fable.
Criminals steal and harm things. Sweeping up “petty criminals” also nets rapists and child molesters and bank robbers. Crimes are committed by a relatively small population. Sweep up this, maybe 2-3% of the population and a society becomes crime free.
AOC probably steals tips when she’s in a restaurant. Hitlery probably fills her purse with extra creamers. Democrats staffers under Clinton would rob the White House cafe. Sweep up the “petty” criminals and you’ll get most of them.
The first mistake is buying the lie that a small crime isn’t worth prosecuting. Of course I’m talking about real crimes like theft or assault. Not process or vague crimes, which are designed to go after honest people or thought crimes or “racists”.