Really now, it absolute BS that people would look at you funny for locking your car in a country where car theft is a well known problem, it's irrelevant how it compares to SA.
Last I was in Aus was ~5 yrs ago on the outskirts of Perth. But have you been to Australia, anywhere in Aussie, to make people out to be a liar? Or is this just your inner Wakanda4Eva speaking, Champie being the Chumpie?
Did you know they were shocked to learn how common the Wakanda4Eva-special is; stealing your car with you in it, aka hijacking.
Sorry to disappoint you Champie, Wakanda4Eva is not civilized. Last I heard our Wakanada4Eva-special was actually exceeding vehicle theft. In the civilized world, it's so rare, it's recorded along with vehicle theft. Ours, you have to add together to get a true reflection.
Oh, and you know what Chumpie! They have proper roads without potholes. No sewerage running down the street. It's clean, not slowly turning into a Ikeja, unlike like Wakanda4Eva. Imagine!