[TheFrozenFiend]

Thieves should be allowed and they shouldnt be jailable in the 'staff member says you go to jail. See you in 3 months' type.

However....

Players should be able to report thieves. An NPC detects when a thief steals something. The player reports the person 'report [accountname]'. If the report is true (NPC server checks) a string in the thiefs account rises.

The higher the string the more wanted the thief. A place in the police station (not police with rc and special healing powers (2001), police who roleplay) shows the top 10 thiefs.
If a player kills a thief on the top 10 list they get a reward (depending on the number in the list and the crime rating for that person) and the thiefs crime rating goes down.

This means thiefs can have their fun stealing but then they will have to pay the consequences by being careful who they are around.

Also NPCs as cops and undercover cops will sometimes attack the thiefs on the top 10 list. If the cop can daze the player (4-5 hits) they can use a net. The thief has a 50-50 net escape chance. If they are caught they are put in jail for one hour - one day (graal real time) depending on the crime rating. The crime rating then lowers by 20% and they are released. They may however be fined for items.

This makes a fair system.
Thiefs can steal from players but not without consequences.