Bank robber: The economy made me do it

The economy made him do it.

That's the excuse an armed robber reportedly gave tellers at a Houston bank as he demanded they empty their cash drawers. According to an article in today's Houston Chronicle, the thief lamented that he couldn't find a job and needed to steal to put food on the table.

"I'm only doing this to eat," the robber said as he brandished a pistol, according to FBI statements cited by the Chronicle. "They're not letting me work."

Crime typically rises during times of economic stress and high unemployment. As people can't find work and unemployment benefits run out, some folks resort to drastic, harmful measures.

Police say they have already seen a sharp rise in crime. In February, the Police Executive Research Forum, a nationwide association of police chiefs, said crimes associated with recessions have risen 44% across the country. Of the 233 major police departments surveyed by the group, about 39% saw an increase in robberies, 32% saw a rise in burglaries and another 40% saw a jump in vehicle thefts.  

The survey was taken in January. By now, things have likely grown worse.

In anticipation of higher crime, municipalities typically increase the police presence in their communities. But not this time. Cities are cutting their law enforcement forces in order to manage sharp declines in tax receipts. On average, about 63% of agencies cut about 6% of their budget, according to PERF. Many of these cuts took effect July 1 because most major police departments operate on a fiscal year that begins this month.

"The fact that most police departments currently are being asked to make cuts is an indication of how badly this recession is affecting local tax bases," said Miami Police Chief John Timoney in a Feb 2 statement accompanying the survey's release.

Cuts were deepest among large cities facing the greatest budget shortfalls. Unfortunately, it is those same cities that typically have larger crime problems.

California's city of Oakland, for example, is eliminating about 140 officers from its 800-man police force.  The cuts will take effect in September, according to the Wall Street Journal. Chicago's police department has more than 400 unfilled vacancies.

Theft isn't the only kind of crime that rises during a recession. Police typically see an increase in identity theft, particularly credit card theft, and other types of fraud.