Heading for recession – and the crime wave that goes with it
news.scotsman.com
 After several years of declining crime rates, there are some indications the tide may be turning as recession triggers an increase in
shoplifting, housebreaking, fraud and other "dishonesty" offenses. (visit the link for the full news article)
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NOW that people increasingly feel they cannot afford that new HD TV or hi-fi, will they be more likely to steal it?
That is the question senior police officers are asking themselves as the economic downturn starts to bite in Scotland.
Last week, a report from Lothian and Borders Police showed a 9 per cent increase in crimes of dishonesty, year on year, for the three months
ending 30 September.
Tom Halpin, the force's acting chief constable, said he was "very alert to the possibility that the current financial climate could have had an effect
on the level of crime".
A 9 per cent increase means more than 1,500 more crimes were committed in the force area in one quarter.
news.scotsman.com
(visit the link for the full news article)
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Ancestors of mine went through the 1st Great Depression in parts of central Illinois. I remember more then one saying that a few people had stolen for
comfort/luxury stuffs at the beginning but later on would have trades comfort for food. Water was never a problem since the rural folks had hand
pumped wells. One of them said they worked for less then a dollar a day when they could find work at all. Hobos would stop and try and get a meal for
putting in a days work on the farms. One thing that saved alot of rural people was barterring. A hunter would trade meats to the people that grew
veggies and canned them. By my grandfathers accounts the city was no place to go. There were thugs trying to muscle in on any market you had
regardless if it was meats, veggies or crafted items like saddles/fabrics/etc. He said "It was a test of how charitable and neighborly you really
were. 1/2 the time we didnt know for sure if we would make it. And if I didnt have anything to spare I spared it anyway because you never know when
what you send around will come back around at you."
I know he didnt mean to suggest if we were to ever have those dark days to live in that we should be chumps, but united we stand, divided we fall.
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