Inequality?
I'm clearly missing your point. Most decent people can feel envy if some people have more than them. They wouldn't go and rob them, though.
The thieves I see being reported on the news aren't stealing a can of tuna and a can of corned beef to feed their families (as one local woman was actually jailed for about 35 years ago, despite being a single mum of two young children with benefits accidentally stopped). They're stealing high-end items to flog on. Most likely to buy pricey items to show off with on SM.
Hardly inequality.
Even if it was, it isn't an excuse to steal other people's property. Many, many people are living on the edge these days. Though the 'edge' these days isn't anything like the edge of my childhood where my mum went into labour early with my sister while coal-picking for the fire from the tip behind us. I suppose that could be considered stealing despite it being waste. Decent people these days don't steal either.
And, yes, harsher penalties for theft and burglary are needed. People are getting pissed off with scumbags robbing shops, putting staff and shoppers in danger and causing price rises for everyone from the shopper paying for items to the shopkeeper losing stock and having insurance premiums hiked.
Ask any burglary victim how they felt coming home to a robbed and frequently trashed home. I think every one of them would be happy to see a harsher punishment, too.
I'm not talking punishment on the scale of more serious crimes like rape, manslaughter or murder but more than a slap on the wrist and a stern telling off not to do it again. If a thief thinks he may as well kill anyone getting in the way, maybe we should re-think sentences for those crimes being increased as well.
A local woman was murdered by her ex-partner who got out in 12 years. I feel for her parents just like I feel for the farmer who did what most of us here would do to protect our families and property.