I kind of see this in the same vein as Christians saying, “How can you be moral without a belief in God?” I don’t believe it’s a presence of a deterrent that prevents it but a security in your environment or person that is the cause.

Sure there is always going to be people that take advantage of other: theft, rape, violence, murder. But these things haven’t been lost with the presence of police. In fact most studies offer solutions that involve enhancing/improving social and community structures without involving policing or an increase.

https://violenceprevention.tulane.edu/resources/strategies-for-community-based-violence-prevention/

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-states-can-lead-on-community-safety-five-recommendations-for-preventing-and-reducing-violence/