The best thing to do is notfollow them. Some guy did that locally and was shot and he later on died because he followed the thiefs to gas station. Is your life worth the$300 that they took? Things can be replaced, but your family cant replace you.
There is always exceptions to every rule. I have seen people break dana 60 with a 6cyl on 35" tires. I have also seen people with v8 and a amc 20 and never break a flange. It all comes down to the driver and luck. But there is a reason people swap those axles and the factory wont even use them...
I have had great success with a limited slip in the rear and a auto locker in the front. That will not effect your on road manners at all but really shines off road. That is the set up that I had in my tj and it was like night and day. I did not do any hardcore wheelin at first either. But if...