So, how do they get away with saying that crime is at historic lows???
First, they defined crime into different categories. So, ‘violent crime’ is one of the lessening areas. This relates you still getting robbed but the guy was smart enough to do it while you were out of the house.
Second, prosecution teams got smart...they want a conviction...even if it means that you don’t charge a guy with manslaughter-second-degree and invent manslaughter-third-degree, then talk the guy’s lawyer into a plea deal. More guys go to prison, but now it’s a two to five year deal instead of the old fifteen year deal.
Third, if you look at some communities (Birmingham would be a good example)...’white-flight’ took place and the punks are left with strictly 7-11 or gas stations to rob because no one with real money lives in the highly urbanized areas any more.
Fourth, changing drug habits occurred...cheaper drugs means you don’t need to rob six people to meet your weekly cost situation....two people are enough now.
Fifth and final....people started to spend more money on alarms and weapons. Go to any urban area with a $250,000 home. The guy will have spent a minimum of $1,500 on alarm gadgets and have a system set to call the cops out to his place. The cops will react, and it’ll be the cops versus the punks in this situation...not the owner versus the punks. Go back a decade ago....probably one house out of a hundred had video collection or alarms. Today? I’d bet it’s closer to 15 out of a hundred, and growing. You can pick up the cameras yourself and do the job for less than $200.