| It has long been noted that in a recession, certain | | | | actions may also be committed because they provide |
| categories of crime may rise. With the economy in | | | | a sense of control over one's circumstances, and a |
| rough shape, criminals are getting more desperate in | | | | false sense of the stability once provided by a job. |
| their attempts to steal. When people lose everything, | | | | As a means to generate money, committing crimes |
| and their very survival is at risk, they may be | | | | may also result in decreased feelings of helplessness. |
| tempted to break the law. In today's economy, in | | | | Once this behavior becomes justified, it becomes |
| which millions of people have lost their jobs, their | | | | easier and easier to commit crimes. Psychologists |
| homes, or both, crime is expected to rise over the | | | | have found that those who begin with petty |
| immediate future. | | | | property crimes are at a greater risk of progressing |
| With round upon round of layoffs, more and more | | | | into larger crimes. If the economy remains in a |
| people are out of work. As their unemployment | | | | recession or continues to worsen, the crime rate is |
| benefits dry up, they become less able to feed | | | | expected to get worse as well. Crimes may escalate |
| themselves and their family. As a result, they may be | | | | in value, frequency, and the level of violence used. |
| tempted towards property crime. Your new TV may | | | | How can such results of a recession be reduced? |
| be pawned for someone else's groceries. It is an | | | | Studies have shown that when people have the |
| unfortunate truth that when on the brink of despair, | | | | resources to provide for their needs, they are less |
| some will be lured towards theft as income during | | | | likely to turn to crime as a way to provide for their |
| times of economic stress. | | | | families or as a way to control their situation. One |
| As the recession grows longer, those who have | | | | can only hope that such support systems will do |
| been out of jobs begin to lose hope. Why is hope so | | | | enough head off any increase in the crime rate |
| important to the crime rate? When people have hope | | | | resulting from the economy. |
| for a brighter future, they hold on to their morals and | | | | Particularly if the economy continues to worsen, you |
| values more tenaciously. During short-term | | | | must prepare your family to deal with the resulting |
| recessions, it is easier to hold on to hope, continuing | | | | increase in crimes, including violent crimes and |
| to seek assistance through legal channels rather than | | | | property crimes. Be observant of what's going on |
| turning to criminal options. | | | | around you. Remember that nothing you own is |
| When all hope is lost, people must get creative, | | | | worth more than your life. Anything that is stolen |
| finding new ways to earn money. Those that have | | | | from you can be replaced, and you should never |
| nothing left to lose have little reason not to turn to | | | | physically confront someone who is in the process of |
| property crime to pay the bills. Crime becomes | | | | stealing. Simple security devices, including security |
| justified as a means of survival. Those perpetuating | | | | cameras and signage on the exterior home, will serve |
| such crimes may also be jealous of those who have | | | | to turn away opportunistic criminals, particularly |
| more food, more clothes, more money, and the | | | | inexperienced thieves in search of an easy target. |
| means to survive. Others justify committing such | | | | While you may be cutting back on your household |
| crimes by thinking of it as a noble cause, putting food | | | | budget, one area that you shouldn't cut back on is |
| on the table through any means necessary. Such | | | | home security. |