Rise in crime related to the economy?

by Kelli Cheatham (kcheatham@wsbt.com)

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Police are investigating after two men attacked a woman in the stairwell of the parking garage at the corner of Wayne and St. Joseph streets in South Bend

Two men attacked a woman in the stairwell of the parking garage at the corner of Wayne and St. Joseph streets in South Bend. (WSBT photo)

By WSBT News1

Story Created: May 14, 2008 at 3:55 PM EST

Story Updated: May 17, 2008 at 2:07 AM EST

SOUTH BEND — Gas prices are hovering around $4 a gallon, and unemployment rates keep going up. Experts say some people are committing crimes to make a buck.

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The increasing crime trend is happening all over. Investigators say Monday a female bartender was robbed and kidnapped in her own car at knife point. The 24-year-old woman escaped safely and ran to another nearby business to call 911.

But other local victims haven't been as lucky. Earlier this month police say six men beat and robbed a Portage Avenue clothing store owner, two men robbed and slashed a young woman in a South Bend parking garage and Tuesday an Elkhart cab driver crashed into an apartment building after he was robbed at knife point.

That cab driver was able to run away and call police. He escaped unharmed.

When money is tight, IU South Bend economics professor Dr. Grant Black said crime rates increase.

"It's not a new phenomenon," Black told WSBT. "And there's been research pretty much through all the decades trying to explore this."

Elkhart Police say they've noticed more crime, but they've also noticed something else. Lt. Ed Windbigler said the violence in the robberies seems to be getting worse.

"When times get tough you look for alternatives to survive," explained Grant Black. "When people get put under pressure I think they do things they normally wouldn't do."

WSBT talked to 34-year-old Marcus Childress, the man police say robbed the cab driver. In a video conference at the Elkhart County Jail, Childress said he was drunk when he did it, and he doesn't really remember what happened. He also said he's currently unemployed.

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