It was more than a few cases. I seen a couple news video's on it but here's an article I found.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-prop-47-shoplifting-theft-crime-statewide
Your story sounds wonderful but rather unrealistic as most people don't have things laying around that people can wander off with and the chances it will come back is pretty unlikely. The majority of people who have things of value they want to get rid of place it on the curb for people to take, I've done that quite often myself, either that or I take it to the thrift shop around the corner and donate the stuff there. It's the only place in the city where people can go in and show any means to being on any type of social program and get a free bag of clothes every month.