Crime and the economy

Over the last few weeks there has been a distinct increase in the number of armed robberies, residence and business break-ins and thefts from vehicles.

Law enforcement partially is blaming the increased crime on the downturn in the economy and believes the thefts are to finance drug use.

Hmmm! Drug use, unfortunately, is with us all the time; in economic good times and in bad times. So why the increased crime now?

A million years ago when I was a "cop shop" reporter in Columbus, officers talked about property crimes being directly related to the economy: The worse the economy, the more thefts, break-ins and robberies. When the economy in the 1970s took a nose dive, bank robberies soared to nearly a hundred in one year.

I doubt if the criminal element has changed that much in the last 30 years ... crooks will be crooks and stealing is their way of life, especially when the economy goes south.

What can we do to lessen our chance of being a victim? Use the locks on our vehicles, homes and businesses, don't put ourselves in dangerous situations, be aware of our surroundings, be aware of who is in our neighborhoods, jot down license plate numbers and be suspicious of anything and/or anyone who "doesn't look right."