We're
in an economic crisis,
any locksmith can tell
you. At desperate times
like these, it's more
important than ever
to protect your property
from those who would
pick a lock and rob
your car or home.
Property crime has already
risen since the recession
began last year. A home
lockout may be the least
of your locksmith worries.
Daylight home burglaries
and armed robberies
are rising across the
board this year, police
told an NBC News affiliate
in Connecticut. "Our
worst economic times
seem to be bringing
out the worst in many
of our people," Connecticut
Attorney General Richard
Blumenthal told NBC.
If your house key is
lost or stolen, a lock
change or rekey could
save you from disaster.
Unemployment correlates
directly to property
crime, and keeping your
car locked should be
just the beginning of
your self-defense plan.
A three-percent rise
in unemployment typically
corresponds to a five-percent
rise in burglary (stealing
property when the victim
is not present), and
a seven-percent surge
in robbery (stealing
directly from a person,
with force), State University
of New York Criminal
Justice Professor Shawn
Bushway told Capitol
News 9. Unemployment
rates continue to rise;
you can expect crime
rates to go up even
faster, and a good locksmith
will help you rekey
to stay safe or recover
from a lockout.
The crime wave isn't
only due to desperation.
A number of criminals
who know how to pick
a lock or break into
a car or office are
getting out of jail
early because cities
and counties simply
can't afford to keep
them. In one recession
twist, bondsman Bill
Davidson told the Eureka
Times-Standard that
jails have become crowded
with potentially innocent
people who can't pay
bail because they're
out of work, forcing
jails to release convicted
criminals early to make
room. "The word on the
street during these
times is, crime does
pay," Davidson said.
A good locksmith can
help ensure it doesn't.
National crime indicators
are booming. The Jewelers'
Security Alliance reported
that jewelry store robberies
went up 22 percent in
2008, with dollar losses
up 46 percent. Jewelry
holds its value in a
recession, and your
jewelry at home is at
greater risk of theft,
as well, when a local
jewel thief can pick
a lock or take advantage
of your lockout. Among
members of the Retail
Industry Leaders Association,
84 percent of stores
reported more shoplifting
since the recession
began. Your own GPS
system or stereo in
your car or home deserve
as much security consideration
as the electronics being
stolen from store shelves,
so keep your car locked
and rekey if necessary.
On the lighter side,
new recession-era criminals
may not be up to lifelong
crime careers. A Chicago
bank robber wrote his
cash demand on the back
of an old pay stub,
which gave police his
name and home address,
where they quickly arrested
him, the Rocky Mountain
News reported. Another
robber near Washington,
D.C., took a taxi to
his crime, leaving a
trail of witnesses to
follow him home. Such
criminals will be hoping
the economy improves
by the time they get
out of jail, so they
can go back to their
day jobs. Your friendly
locksmith can keep your
car and home safe until
then.
By
Mark
Locations served
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