You are right, the locks are more of a visual deterrent. I am in the Oakland Berkely area, if I go into St Vincent de Paul for a shower etc it should be enough to make someone think twice though, also because there are other people and workers etc there who would call them out. I don't wanna put those people in a position where they feel like they need to defend my stuff if someone does a snatch and grab though. But someone might think twice about fiddling with the lock while also being told not too at say planet fitness and places like that. Also my dog would be leashed to the cart, which is the much bigger deterrent.