Use a little common sense. You don't risk your life or your freedom for property. Property can be fixed or replaced. With that in mind I give you the following advice.
If you see somebody stealing from your neighbor, call the police, take a picture with your phone. Don't interfere.
If you see somebody beating up your neighbor, call the police, take a picture with your phone. Don't interfere. There's nothing you can do to stop it and you are likely to get yourself injured.
Keep your car doors locked and don't leave valuables in your car. If somebody breaks into your car, call the police. Again, confronting a criminal could get you injured. Theoretically, you can use appropriate force to protect your property. In reality, it's likely to just get you injured. Sure, you can point a gun and yell stop. Then some neighbor reports a crazy person waving a gun, your thief runs away, it's not a good idea to shoot an unarmed thief who is running away.
Inside your house is another story. But you still have to use common sense and just the amount of force that it takes to eliminate the threat, no more.

