The moral of the story seems to be that if you don't get lucky and find your property is not abandoned by the thief then knowing where your property is doesn't

The moral of the story seems to be that if you don't get lucky and find your property is not abandoned by the thief then knowing where your property is doesn't help much without the capacity to bring the requisite violence (or credible threat thereof) to take it back into your possession or the government (i.e. the police) being able (a resources issue) willing (a policy issue) to do so on your behalf. *shrug*