While this can't be prevented, cops do nothing and perhaps insurance does cover it... the main point is to catch these thieving wankers!
The best option would be a tracker chip if they didn't cost so much to keep it tracked. Since it's 24/7 there's a monthly charge and it's just not worth it for most people. Last time I was looking, those services cost £20+ per month to keep tracking it, on the off chance your bike gets stolen, which most don't.
It's a shame people have to pay through the nose for these things. If tracker chips were something like £30 for the initial chip and £5 per month to track it, that would be more like it, but it costs way more. Also then the company knows where you're going on your bike, which some people might not like the idea of.
EDIT: Oh there's ones where you can track it with your own phone. These are £80+, stick out like a sore thumb and have a subscription charge (one I saw was cheap, £12 a year). I guess if that can be 100% concealed like the ones that fit inside the end of your handlebar, it might be worth it but £80 buys so many other bike parts that actually serve a purpose. If your bike never gets stolen (and most don't) it's just a waste of money isn't it.
What happens when the prosecution brings up the point that a vast majority of people that also had a bad upbringing aren't going around killing people?