LEV344 Stealing is more than merely violating a Torah precept, although it is that as well [this verse]. It is also a statement of non-belief in God as an active force in the world. Although every sin shows a certain disbelief in God (since if we were conscious of a God who is watching and caring about us, how can we do anything wrong--see the chapter "Choices and Freedom"), stealing in particular denies an active God in the world. Belief in an active God implies that there is a certain reason that each person was granted the lot he has been given, even if we cannot understand why. Thus, God gave certain people a lot of talent, others great intelligence, and still others much wealth. By taking that wealth from one person and giving it to himself, a thief is saying, in essence, they he does not believe that there is a structure from God why people have what they do, and this thief will "redistribute the wealth" the way he sees fit and not the way God sees fit. Of course, most thieves do not actively think about this and most steal out of greed, not creed, but the effect is the same. Nevertheless, it was because people stole that the world was destroyed. Rashi, (commentary on Gen. 6:13), quoting the Talmud (Sanhedrin 108b), says that although there were many sins and crimes committed during that generation, the one sin that sealed the world's destruction was stealing. Because people demonstrated absolutely no belief in a higher being (and destroyed the fabric of society in the process), the world could not continue. That is why there is no difference in Judaism between a small theft or large theft, since in both, denial of God and His structure is implied.