Many years ago, a couple friends who had stuff grabbed in the parking garage, set out some stuff in a car and pulled up alongside & parked in a VW microbus and waited.......about 10 minutes, whenupon a small band of thieves arrived to help themselves to some apparently unattended valuables.
The boys jumped out a beat the livin' snot outa the thieves, and caused them to be in fear of death or maiming. Scuffed up and a little bloody, they promised to never, ever steal stuff outa that garage ever again. The boys were prepared to inflict painful and possibly crippling injury if necessary and the thieves were abundantly aware of that fact.
A little fear is a good thing, no matter who you think you are.
A little fear can teach respect.
A lot of fear is even better.