It their role to protect capital (i.e. private property), not people. Protecting people is an occasional consequence of that, but when the two are at odds, they almost always side against people.
The police will not help you much when your capital (i.e. private property) gets stolen, and will often defend thieves against victims trying to reclaim rightful property.
The police are there to protect the government against threats to stability and the monopoly on the use of power. Police are always quick to defend 'their own' (other police) and government agencies/agents.
> The police will not help you much when your capital (i.e. private property)
Most people don't hold much private property apart from maybe their house. Pretty much everything else from vehicles to toothbrushes fall under the category of personal property.
Private property generates capital for the owner without the owner performing labour, personal property does not. Police will protect the former, not the ladder.
I was responding to a parent comment which said "capital (i.e. private property)", not coming up with my own definition or wording, so if you have an issue with the semantics, please take it up with them.
That said, the police usually aren't especially interested in protecting business assets and property from being damaged or stolen either. Ask any business manager or owner who has had property damaged or stolen, and they will tell you that the police (in most areas) don't particularly care.
The police are there to protect the government against threats to stability and the monopoly on the use of power. Police are always quick to defend 'their own' (other police) and government agencies/agents.