and having their belongings stolen or damaged
I've witnessed this once, and I think you'll be pleased to know that I took it very seriously. The bully in question was made not only to replace the damaged things, but I also banned him from taking anything to school for a month except the things required in school. It was also made clear that he was not to touch anyone else's things, and if he did, he would be sitting by himself until I decided to release him from the punishment.
I have zero time for bullies, although I also don't believe that kids should be forced to like someone. If someone is weird, so be it, just leave them alone and let them be weird by themselves. The same bully I mentioned above also kicked another kid hard in the corridor right in front of me. I've never shouted at kids, but he got a 45 minute 'discussion' in which I made it crystal clear to him that he was playing by my rules, and my rules could be far worse than anything he could think of. He asked me for an example, and I asked him how he would like to serve dinner for a month to the kids that he had attempted to bully, including laying tables and generally acting as a waiter for them.
Interestingly, Polly, I've also witnessed parents bullying other parents.