I'd posit that maybe it's transference from newsworthy cases of loss of property. In burglary cases we read about thieves stealing goods of high-value, so one r

I'd posit that maybe it's transference from newsworthy cases of loss of property. In burglary cases we read about thieves stealing goods of high-value, so one reasons that the average person is more inclined to steal high-value goods. Whereas the more accurate model is perhaps that most thieves and average people would prefer to steal only what is necessary and convenient, but the value of goods that were not stolen is not reported.