I think the parent's statement is different. It has less to do with "your own" class warfare, than it does with simple cost benefit analysis.  In your own neighborhood: everyone can know you are a theif, but since you don't steal from them or their friends, they don't really care as much, and so, don't report you.  In your own neighborhood chances of a witness recognizing you goes way up. Even thieves have friends, and they don't want to rob from them. There are a few more I'm forgetting probably.