Leviticus 6:4-5 Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered to him to keep, or the lost thing which he found. Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely, he shall restore it in principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it to him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.
This principal response to the guilt of stealing could go a long way as a deterrent to crime: restore what was taken and add a fifth part of it. Why would one steal if he knew he would just return it all plus more? Of course, it would only work if it were done voluntarily from a heart that has been changed internally by the love of God. It wouldn’t work on the heart of the unbeliever as his heart is not affected by the operations of Law and Gospel. Thus the world must go to the great expense of using force through the law enforcement and judicial system.
What happens is that sin separates from God and from Life. Guilt reveals this miserable state and forgiveness because of the sacrifice of Christ restores life and a right relationship with God. The resultant new life is filled with so much joy that we desire to restore what we took and make right what we made wrong. This is the ideal world, heaven on earth, the kingdom come, but this kingdom life exists in the heart of the believer by faith. We respond to living in that kingdom by restoring what was taken.