Back when I was working with addicts, they'd always peel up and show me their new bikes. Talk about how cheap they got them or what not. And tbh, as far as I know - these people legitimately "bought" them off of others. As in, they weren't the ones who stole the bikes, but they were so happy for the deal. I can say none of them ever seemed to be remorseful about others, and I mean in that sense I get it. Cause if your life is shit, little wins feel like big victories.
But I also think theft sucks, people don't even understand how expensive these things can be and they ride them into the ground or get rolled and the next asshole does. Or the asshole after that. Maybe the secret is that there needs to be a way to get the homeless more mobility so they don't steal from others. Idk. But I can say it probably all stems from the fact that when you're on the streets you're allowed to keep stuff but nothing is ever secure. So they go by them rules for everything. Like, I knew this one wonderful guy who just kept everything in a suitcase, and would roll it everywhere. But one day his suitcase was gone, he looked fucking misreable, and he had to start over cause someone ran off with it one night. So you know, it is what it is - but what it is does fucking suck.