11-20-2008, 04:28 AM
Back in the eighties, Hawaiian Acres had a huge crime wave. They organized a very efficient Community Watch program and went from about 500 break ins a month to less than two. All this happened within a month or two, also. It was a huge decrease in crime. At least, crime in Hawaiian Acres, I don't know if crime went up in other areas. As the economy sours, crime will increase as folks need to get money to pay rent, buy food, etc.
As far as individual crime, the story of the two guys running from the bear and one guy saying he didn't think he could outrun a bear with the other replying all he had to do was to outrun the other guy comes to mind. If your house has a fence, gate, dog, neighbors, etc., then it isn't as likely to be burgled as the house without the same stuff. Also a "fancy" house is more likely to be a target than a "modest" house. Use local standards of "fancy" and "modest" when determining the visible status of your house, too. There is already a huge discrepancy between the "haves" and the "have nots" and a poor economy makes it even worse. That doesn't mean crime is the answer, though.
As far as individual crime, the story of the two guys running from the bear and one guy saying he didn't think he could outrun a bear with the other replying all he had to do was to outrun the other guy comes to mind. If your house has a fence, gate, dog, neighbors, etc., then it isn't as likely to be burgled as the house without the same stuff. Also a "fancy" house is more likely to be a target than a "modest" house. Use local standards of "fancy" and "modest" when determining the visible status of your house, too. There is already a huge discrepancy between the "haves" and the "have nots" and a poor economy makes it even worse. That doesn't mean crime is the answer, though.
Kurt Wilson