6 Major Crimes That Are Happening During The Covid-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic that is ravaging the United States has had wide-ranging effects on public life. Businesses that were closed for months are beginning to open again, but many health experts warn that the country is primed to experience more lockdowns and spiking cases in the coming months.

While the rates of some crimes have gone down during the pandemic, other areas are seeing significant increases. These crimes point toward a fundamental shift in the U.S. economy and toward a lack of social services. Since unemployment rates remain high, a vulnerable population could be experiencing economic distress.

One of the serious complications that has resulted from the pandemic is the shuttering of courts. Jails are also less likely to hold people under these circumstances, meaning that potential offenders are walking the streets when under normal conditions they would be incarcerated.

Gun Violence and Homicide

During the early months of the pandemic, public safety experts were pleased to see that crime was dipping overall. People were mostly staying at home, and opportunities for criminal activity decreased. While crime has declined overall during the pandemic, the rates of certain serious crimes have spiked. In some cities like Chicago, there has been a continuing spate of gun violence and homicide.

While the overall violent crime rate has dropped by 15 percent, shootings and homicides have become more common. Each year, there are more homicides and shootings during the warmer months, so a shift was expected. While rates have dropped overall, there are also fewer officers on patrol and fewer chances for witnesses to report crimes while they are sitting at home.

Burglaries

While home burglaries have dropped during COVID, commercial burglaries are up. This is due to the fact that businesses have been left unattended during the pandemic, where homes have been occupied more often during the day. Commercial burglaries were up by as much as 30 percent on average across major cities in the United States.

Increased Car Thefts

Car theft has also been on the increase in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Denver, New York City, Salt Lake City, and Austin, Texas. In New York City, car thefts have soared by 63 percent over 2019. Car thefts are crimes of opportunity, meaning that when cars are left idle on the streets and not driven every day, it is less likely that their owners are watching out for them.

Car theft is a lower-risk criminal activity with high rewards. People with a criminal bent who are out of work may be tempted to steal cars to pay for mounting bills or a serious drug habit. Since schools were closed for months, troubled teenagers could also be on the streets looking for excitement in the form of car theft.

People can take simple steps to avoid car theft. Most of the time, stolen cars have their doors left unlocked or have their keys or fobs left in the vehicle. Thirty seconds to secure the car after driving could make a difference when it comes to preventing crime. People should also park as close to home as possible and regularly check the neighborhood streets where they are parked. It may also be a good idea to move your car to different parking places over the course of a week.

The cars that are stolen are not always the most expensive and flashy models. Stolen cars are more likely to be popular models from a few years ago, which will be driven to a "chop shop" to be broken down for spare parts. These parts are sold on the Internet and also distributed to unscrupulous repair shops. Airbags and catalytic converters are two parts that are frequently targeted by thieves.

Police Stops

During the early months of the pandemic, fewer vehicle and personal police stops occurred. In Chicago and L.A., stops decreased by about a third. In Philadelphia, they dropped by 50 percent or more.

In Philadelphia, the rate of Black motorists stopped by police rose substantially. This could have happened because essential workers are more likely to be Black. Racial injustice has continued to be a problem across the country, especially in urban areas.

These drops in police stops could in themselves lead to more crime, since suspects are not taken off the streets. Criminals know that they may not be arrested so they feel emboldened to commit more crimes. A criminal defense lawyer in Tampa can help if you feel you have been unjustly stopped by police.

Opportunity and Motivation

For some types of crimes such as car theft, there have been more opportunities to offend. Commercial burglaries are also up. This reflects criminals' motivation and their ability to commit crimes. COVID-19 has caused some segments of the population to become economically desperate. This could result in higher rates of property crimes and robberies.

Trust Defense Attorneys

If you or a loved one has been falsely accused of a crime during the COVID-19 pandemic and needs a criminal defense lawyer Tampa, you can be reassured that professionals are looking out for you and your safety. Criminal defense attorneys will be there to make sure that you are treated fairly.

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