[cestith]

I agree it's a serious issue that should be taken seriously. The statutory value approach is one of many possible ways to address it, though. It leans on other laws for theft, larceny, vandalism, or destruction of property with a fictional sum rather than just making the theft or destruction its own offense. I'm not aware of places that take both approaches, but those may exist. Prosecutors do like having options, including bringing multiple charges for the same act.