Amazing drop in crime rate

The common robber is quietly disappearing from our streets

ENTIRE INDUSTRIES are disappearing before our eyes.

Blacksmiths vanished in 1890.

Makers of vinyl records went bust in 1990.

Pop singers who could write actual tunes vanished in 1976.

And now another group is facing extinction: robbers.
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The number of common crimes in cities is falling fast, according to a study of 30 countries by Jan van Dijk of Holland’s Tilburg University and his colleagues. Levels of crime are lowest in Hong Kong/China, Japan and Spain, he discovered.

The news was shared by a worried reader whose area of expertise is criminal law. “Particularly hard-hit is the UK, which used to be proud of its crime tradition, with a host of celebrity thieves from Charlie Peace to the Great Train Robbers,” he said.

A huge drop in the cost of DVD players from Asia has been identified as the main cause of growing unemployment among British burglars, according to research published last week. Home break-ins in the UK have fallen by more than 50 per cent in the past 10 years.

Unlike other disappearing groups, such as makers of horseshoes and readers of broadsheet newspapers, career robbers get little sympathy and have almost no chance of getting government grants to keep their skills alive.

Will taxpayers finance the last remaining burglar to do his stuff in a museum somewhere?

“Probably not,” said our lawyer source. “Burglary lacks the charm of other age-old traditional activities, such as pottery, lace-making and official corruption.”

Experts reckon the few remaining thieves are looking for salvation to Apple Inc, which makes small cool things. "It is these expensive personal items which are the most attractive to thieves today as they still retain value and can therefore be sold on,” criminology lecturer James Treadwell told Reuters. No doubt Apple boss Steve Jobs is thrilled at this show of support.
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I once interviewed a burglar who had written a book about his former life of crime. “I wish I was back in my old profession,” he lamented. “The publishing business is full of crooks.” I told him: “True, but in private industry we traditionally don’t say ‘crooks’, we say ‘businessmen’. It means the same thing.”

The most interesting comment came from a Dutch reader. Several European countries now have an activity called Locksports, he said. Contestants have to pick locks, break through sealed doors, open safes and so on. Locksport contestants have to pledge never to use their skills for anti-social purposes. “It keeps them busy and out of trouble,” he said. “And they’re useful to know if you lock yourself out of your home.”

One reader asked an intriguing question: will the fall in the number of criminal acts lead to humanity achieving crime-free societies? I doubt it. Given the mysterious disappearance of cookies and other sweet treats in my house, I can’t even achieve a crime-free society in my own kitchen.

But going back to housebreaking, the last time I had to call a locksmith to get me into my own home, he charged US$80 for a job which took him two minutes. “That’s robbery,” I said. “That’s business,” he replied. I told you.
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THIS WEEK we are going to discuss various aspects of crime and punishment. Tomorrow: Is a crime-free society possible? Hear about the small place with 4.2 million surveillance cameras.
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Technorati Tags: crime,punishment,crime-free society,burglar

Comments

[sej]

Crime is just becoming less tangible... and more remote...

Gone (or going) is the simple break & enter. What you see today, is the theft of information, particularly personal information. And the trouble is, when your information is stolen:

• you don't necessarily know its stolen, because you still have it;
• You don't necessarily personally see the losses, although the organisations which really did lose something through the theft of your information might try to make you;
• It could be stolen from someone else, and perhaps someone you didn't even know had your information;
• It is intangible, and I'm sure laws in many countries have not kept up with the situation... I'd be surprised if in many cases, simply having such information is not illegal;
• It could potentially be used in any other country on the planet, not just where you live; and
• The person/group who stole your information could be in any other country on the planet, not necessarily in the country where you live.

[Ellen]

is the crime rate really falling around the world? It would be amazing if it was. i havent heard this anywhere else. but its kind of an exciting thought. I would have assumed that it was going up.
or is sej correct, it is not going down merely changing shape?

my pennyworth: i feel less scared going out at night than I used to. subconscious?

[Joanna C.]

This is actually quite exciting. Does this mean that t6here is a potential for ordinary people to "reclaim the night."?

I read that people even in New York are going out at night mroe since the crime rate has dropped there.

[fardel]

Statisticians are so afraid that they stopped counting!

[Fan]

I love the cutting at the top of this page. Now that's what i call a dumb criminal.You should do some columns on dumb criminals.There are some great stories about.

[Nury]

Thanks, fan, I've done quite a few reports on dumb criminals. Here are some from Hong Kong:

Yeung Yu-kit, aged 20, was a mugger who struck in Kowloon City. So inept was she that during the scuffle she managed to transfer her wallet to the bag of the woman she was attacking. This was the first time I'd encountered a case of a mugger transferring her property to the victim.

Then there was Carrie Wong, 34, who was an embezzler at a hospital. Her job was to order equipment for intensive care. She was caught when she ordered a karaoke machine – not very common gear for surgical theatres.

Or the woman whose name I've forgotten who stole a tin of mackeral by putting it into her pants. She pleaded absent-mindedness, but the judge said: "If you put a tin of fish into your pants, you know about it."

Here are a few more:

http://mrjam.typepad.com/diary/2008/04/the-worlds-dumb.html

[Yeta]

You should really publicize this information more.
"Come to hong kong and wander around in the dark with money sticking out of your pocket without being robbed."
People will be so amazed that they will flock to visit.

[farah]

so you say the rate of robbery is going down and all of them are fearing unemployment?? why are we then running at the exact opposite direction? last month there're 2 robberies in our areas and from then on we had to bolt the locks extra tight.

you want us to send our robbers to you? that would seem to return the old charm.

[fardel]

Saying that the rate of robberies has dropped, is the same as saying that financers have lost a lot of money in the last financial crisis.
It does not affect us or our neighborhood.
There are still plenty of them
Should I hire a bodyguard when I visit HK?

[Nury]

I admit that this news is not really fair to everyone.

The scientific report said identified certain areas and certain crimes that were disappearing.

But it is true that in certain areas (such as Cambodia) crime rates remain high. Maybe Farah's comment suggests that Bangladesh is also one of these places.

The good news is that in large swatches of the world, crime does seem to be falling steadily. (Western Europe for example.)

It's possible that if we can learn from this, we can replicate it in other countries.

This could be a case of a welcome trend that becomes globalized!

Fardel -- we are looking forward to your visit on May 1st. TS is also heading to Hong Kong in spring...

[TS]

We will be in Hong Kong in a few days, arriving on the 25th Feb.

[fardel]

@ TS
I am sorry , i am not swimming fast enough to see you there
I shall arrive later in spring

[MIke]

The crime I can't figure out is how criminals break into my house take my keys then return them them back to places I know I have already looked.

This happens to other items to cellphones, remote controls, once even a sandwich.

[TS]

fardel,
Will there be a stop over in Australia?

[Karuna]

@Fardel, may be our our in-house truck driver would take the job as bodyguard.

@Yeta, it may sound strange. But, Hong Kong is actually very safe. You can walk with money sticking out of your pocket and no one will mug you.
But, if you are tourist, you will be cheated into buying obsolete cameras or duplicate Rolex watches at exorbitant prices....

[Nury]

Karuna, Christy, any other readers in Hong Kong, let's aim to meet up with TS after he arrives on the 25th.

And I agree with Karuna about Hong Kong. Sometimes when I go jogging at night, I see a small child walking home alone in the dark. In other cities, it probably wouldn't be safe to do that.

[Foxlore]

@Karuna, yes HK is a safe city indeed, with the exception of the acid throwers...

...really wish whoever those guys are that they would quit it. Not only is acid a painful terrible experience for those who get hit by it, but it is also being way overused as a plot device in HK films these days (e.g. Trick or Cheat, Split Second Murders, 72 Tennants of Prosperity)

[Karuna]

@Nury, Great idea. Let's meet up.

@TS, how is your schedule ? Would this weekend be convenient ?

@Gang, any thoughts on venue ?

[TS]

@Karuna, any time this weekend will be fine with us, we got an open schedule.

[Karuna]

@ Gang, Nury
Do we just meet for coffee and a yarn OR do a lunch/dinner ?

Any ideas on venues ?
Checked Fringe Club. They are OK for us to meet there on Sat before 5pm.

[fardel]

Wow
@ TS
Sorry again
Australia is a little far out;
Maybe later, if I settle down East,it would be easier.
Hey gang I wih I were here in february.
You guys will have a hell of a good time
Our truck driver as a bodyguard;

this is a nice idea;
i can imagie the scene:
bad guys:give me your money!
Me:forget it!
bad guys:give me your money,I say
Me:
No you cannot have it , I have my bodyguard!
bad guys:This is your bodyguard?!

Me waking away safe, bad guys rolling on the floor, choking with laughter

[fardel]

A Maze in droppings, grime rates high according to a study of 30 countries

wow,are he birds responsible?

[Christy]

@Nury, TS, Karuna: great idea! let's meet up :D

@Fardel: how long have you been in the water?! it seems you've been swimming since Nury posted photos of Farah's eyes -- which is a few months ago!

[TS]

Once fardel reaches Hong Kong, his skin will be all wrinkly and overgrown with barnacles and he will look like he's at least fifty years old.
An old Dave Edmunds song comes to mind.

The Creature From The Black Lagoon

All He Wanted Was A Lady,
When At Night He Came Up From The Deep.
He Was Feeling Like Any Other Lonely Fella,
Decided To Take One While The City Was Asleep.

The Unsuspecting Maiden
Was Clutched From Where She Lay,
And Taken Away To A Hole Down Under
The Waters Of The Local Bay.

By The Creature From The Black Lagoon-A
Strange To See Him Back So Soon.
After His Last Intended Did The Dirty On Him,
Didn't Last Five Minutes In The Swim.

With The Creature Of The Black Lagoon-A
Be Seeing Him Again Real Soon.
After This Intended Lets Him Down,
Won't Last Five Minutes With Him Around.

Only Surfaced For A Companion,
'Cause Of That He's Never Been Seen.
Just A Big Look Written In The Eyes Of His Baby,
And A Cry Of Terror, A Honeymoon Scream.

The Unsuspecting Maiden
Will Be Clutched From Where She Sleeps,
And Taken Away To A Hole Down Under
The Water, And That's For Keeps.

By The Creature From The Black Lagoon-A,
Strange To See Him Back So Soon.
After His Last Intended Did The Dirty On Him,
Didn't Last Five Minutes In The Swim.

The Unsuspecting Maiden
Will Be Clutched From Where She Sleeps,
And Taken Away To A Hole Down Under
The Water And That's For Keeps.

By The Creature From The Black Lagoon-A
Strange To See Him Back So Soon.
After His Last Intended Did The Dirty On Him,
Didn't Last Five Minutes In The Swim.

With The Creature From The Black Lagoon-A,
Be Seeing Him Again Real Soon.
After This Intended Lets Him Down,
Won't Last Five Minutes With Him Around.

[Foxlore]

Will the finalized time / location of the meetup be posted here in the comments thread or elsewhere on the site?

[fardel]

@Christy
What one could do for Farah'eyes!
@TS
Where is the music?

[farah]

no Christy. fardel has been swimming ever since the famous truck driver's camouflage emerged :P:P

[Nury]

Dave Edmunds, that takes me back a loooong time. I think 1970s!!!

[fardel]

If Dave Edmunds takes you back to your 70 s , then you are older then me.......

[TS]

@fardel, Here's the music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_4iZIguRBs

[fardel]

Funny