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Apparently solar panels that have fake cracks are moderately popular in some parts of the world to deter theft and similar behavior.

Counterfeit panels are also a huge problem

https://mybroadband.co.za/news/energy/507496-knock-off-solar...

Poor countries have these problems, yes, but they don’t stop whatever, they just add some expense to it. In certain areas of Mexico, businesses have to pay taxes to the local cartel, but if you do, they’ll leave you alone-and they know that if they demand too much, that’s actually undermining their own self-interest. Effectively, the cartel is just another level of local government, taxing you like all the others do. An armed gang or warlord somewhere in Africa or Syria or Afghanistan very often functions similarly.

Sounds like taxes and government to me and that hasn't (so far) stopped people from building.

In fact many people here praise those gangs, and wish they were bigger and demand more money.