True. I don't know from where people get the idea that the police would bother with an investigation for your (personally important) case if you had full-on surveilance.

You may have your laptop snatched, go to the police station and show them the exact location of the thieves using e.g. find my Mac. The will do nothing, even if it's in the building across the street.

Now, showing them some blurry (at best) faces in CCTV footage and ask them to investigate? Good luck.