[tshannon]

Exactly. As inflation goes up and wages remain stagnant, more and more people are doing the risk calculus that makes stealing and crime in general worthwhile.

People with good paying jobs that don't wear them down the bone don't steal things, but when you're looking at spending 90% of your pay on a shared living space, and no money left for food, or emergencies, then stealing copper, or catalytic converters all of a sudden starts looking like a valid option.