Chazal ask why a Ganav (sneaky thief) has to pay double, and not a Gazlan (thief in broad daylight)? They explain that the reason is because a Ganav is afraid of people more than Hashem and that’s why he hides. But a Gazlan is afraid of neither. We may still ask, isn’t a Gazlan worse, since he’s an open Rasha without any shame? A Ganav at least has Middos, and he has some Menschlichkeit! The Chovos Halvavos in Shaar Yichud HaMa'aseh says that being afraid of people is like Avoda Zara Mamash; so the Gazlan, despite his bad Middos, at least he doesn’t serve idols (people) like a Ganav!
Even though the Gazlan may not be such a Ma’amin (believer) in Hashem, but he doesn’t worship idols (according to the Chovos Halvavos) like the Ganav! Rabeinu Yonah in Mishlei points out that Shlomo HaMelech first speaks about Emuna and only later Mitzvos, since Emuna is #1. A person needs not to be Nis'pael from humans, and not to turn them into gods, Rachana Litzlan!
