Legal Commentary

Will the Poor Economy Make Your Grandmother Rob Banks?

By TChris

Some people believe there is no correlation between a bad economy and rising crime rates. Others argue that desperate times create desperate people, causing an increase in property and drug crimes. The evidence does not clearly support either position.

Whatever relationship might exist between crime and a tanking economy, it's tempting to conclude (as did "Good Morning America") that the Grandma Bandit -- a woman of about 60 who has robbed four banks in Southern California since last year -- is likely "behind on [her] bills and desperate for the money." Or maybe she's just fed up with ATM service charges and rude tellers.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on March 31, 2009 (boomark / email).