The SF police don't even try. They could be using bait cars, responding to calls of broken glass, etc. They won't catch all of the thieves, but the habitual ones would eventually get unlucky. Right now, the police don't bother, because the DA doesn't prosecute misdemeanors. Now there's a brand new DA that seems like he'll do even less.

Ultimately if it's known that breaking into a car is something that has a reasonable chance of a big punishment, it will happen less.