They frequently already are. Even here in Canada[1] where any kind of "carry" is generally not allowed. Shockingly, thieves often don't care about gun laws though.
Your link refers to a single robbery which explicitly requires that you threaten another individual. "Thieves" encompasses far, far more than robbery, crimes where you needn't threaten someone else and carrying an illegal firearm becomes a liability.
It's much more safe for a law abiding citizen to assume that all thieves are armed, because they most likely are.
That’s awful, it’s terrible that the thieves fear for their lives so much that they arm themselves
Burglars in particular tend to target empty houses precisely to avoid confrontation. To bring a weapon only make sense if there is a chance of getting shot at.
Isn't "crime, done with the involvement of a firearm" also often more harshly punished than the plain crime itself? If a burglar is targeting empty houses, this would give them a strong incentive to not bring a firearm, just in case they get caught.
As the saying goes, only break one law at a time!
Yes burglary with weapons is called robbery and is treated as a more serious crime with a higher punishments in a lot of jurisdiction
I thought robbery required a victim person be present.
> because they most likely are.
This has to be made up.
Escalating petty theft into attempted murder charges, with the possibility of capital punishment? Um...
They already are, including in the countries that penalise carrying anything for the self defense.