Yes and no, it depends on what you're considering petty property crime.

Someone breaking into my house to steal something while my family is home? They're getting shot in the forehead. I don't know their intentions, nor am I going to assume the best of intentions.

But I agree, SWAT in response to this is overboard. I would've been glad to see the author get proportionate repercussions (perhaps his Github/NPM accounts being deleted) as we know his intention, but putting his life in danger is too far.