I've had two cars stolen, and many people I know have had at least one stolen... so analogously it's still an issue... beyond this, there have literally been dozens of shootings in most major US cities alone every week. And even in those places with strict gun laws, there are regularly violent crimes with bladed weapons.
Maybe Jefferson brought some of that whacky weed down to the slave quarters and had a big party. Had a good time. Drugged them up first. Not unlike maybe the underclass of sex workers today, in dire straits and desperate.