Perhaps it's not the fault of the cowardly thieves but the 24 hour format. I've lost more to the bast--ds at the 24 Hours of Daytona that any sport or venue combined.
While at the 24 hours of Daytona in 2004, several young men walked by dragging a keg of ice cold beer. Me and my fellow campers unsucessfully tried to bum a beer and were denied. 20 minutes later a fellow came around asking if anyone saw a keg walking by. Apparently, his suds were stolen.
I pointed in the direction I thought the keg was heading and followed the rightful owner. We found a crowd of 20 somethings happily drinking from the keg and they couldn't care less if they were caught or not. I thought the owner would throttle the thieves, but he took his keg and departed without a fight.
I think the garden hose would have been justified on that occasion.