# The effect of the Coronavirus on crime **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [April 8, 2020, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378 "2020-04-08T21:34:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378/21 "2020-04-11T22:31:00Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > This is from the Associated Press: > > “In Chicago, one of America’s most violent cities, drug arrests have plummeted 42% in the weeks since the city shut down, compared with the same period last year.” > > "Across Latin America, crime is down to levels unseen in decades."Killings are down, and the gangsters aren’t harassing so much,‘’ Eduardo Perdomo, a 47-year-old construction worker, said while getting off a bus in San Salvador. “I think they’re afraid of catching the virus, and they aren’t going out.‘’ El Salvador reported an average of two killings a day last month, down from a peak of 600 a day a few years ago.” Do you mean 16 a day? 600 a day would be 217,200 murders a year in a country with about 6.49 mil people. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378/22 "2020-04-11T22:52:11Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > Yeah, that’s what I am hearing from cops around here. They don’t want to advertise that they are being far more lax for fear of opening up a criminal free for all, and publicly they say that they are enforcing the law as they normally would, but this is exactly what they told me that unless there are blood, bombs or dead bodies, everything is on hold, except for domestic violence and child abuse. > > I get the jail reports every day so I can see if one of my clients are on it (the courts are hearing bail matters) and DV is about the only misdemeanor charge that the magistrates are even setting cash bail amounts on. Other than trying to not expose ourselves on calls we have also lengthened the number of days off between tours and made squads smaller to lessen the impact of anyone going on quarantine. We are spread thin. As the night shift we are doing a lot of presence patrols. Making sure we are seen on the backroads and neighborhoods. It’s a normal suburban of 60,000 and we want to show the residents we are still watching out. I have not noticed a big increase in domestic violence but I hear there was a serious incident there now. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378/23 "2020-04-11T23:50:48Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Other than trying to not expose ourselves on calls we have also lengthened the number of days off between tours and made squads smaller to lessen the impact of anyone going on quarantine. We are spread thin. > > As the night shift we are doing a lot of presence patrols. Making sure we are seen on the backroads and neighborhoods. It’s a normal suburban of 60,000 and we want to show the residents we are still watching out. I have not noticed a big increase in domestic violence but I hear there was a serious incident there now. Yeah, I haven’t seen an increase in DVs. If anything a slight decrease. I have no cites and this is just a WAG, but most people arrested for DV have been in the system before and know how it works. In normal times, you can pick a fight with your spouse knowing that you can grab the keys and go to a buddy’s house or a hotel or to a bar for a couple of hours. You cannot do that with the lockdown, so you try to just go to separate rooms and make the best of it. Likewise, a person that gets “police happy” over minor pushing and shoving will think twice about calling the police knowing that she will expose her spouse to Covid-19 when he is in the lockup overnight and bring it home to her when she attempts to drop the charges (and 95% of the time, they attempt to drop the charges). And, I’ll probably get flamed for saying it, but in my experience, probably 19 out of 20 DV cases are complete bullshit. One or both of the parties are drunk and they get into a screaming match over something and one gets in the other’s face and says something provocative which the other responds with a push or a slap. That’s certainly not cool, but the person assaulted is not the traditional “battered spouse” we see on the news. They are completely free to leave when they want or go file for divorce if they choose. But they now have another chip that they can use and get the other person arrested (and this happens to men and women) either out of spite or to lay the foundation for a future divorce action. In these times where that means exposing the person to Covid-19, these people tend to not be so aggressive. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378/24 "2020-04-12T00:25:37Z")
[Well, Utah has seen a sharp increase in DV calls.](https://kutv.com/news/coronavirus/utah-county-sees-75-increase-in-domestic-violence-911-calls-during-pandemic) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378/25 "2020-04-12T05:08:49Z")
Here’s the AP on the pandemic-related overall drop in crime worldwide: [Crime drops as COVID-19 keeps people inside](https://www.aol.com/article/news/2020/04/12/crime-drops-as-covid-19-keeps-people-inside/23975672/) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378/26 "2020-04-12T19:41:45Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > [Well, Utah has seen a sharp increase in DV calls.](https://kutv.com/news/coronavirus/utah-county-sees-75-increase-in-domestic-violence-911-calls-during-pandemic) I have no doubt some areas have an uptick in domestic violence calls but that cite basically says went to a meeting and someone said something. With no numbers or background that’s meaningless. What do they mean by domestic violence? Are they lumping in calls that are investigated and unfounded as crimes? Do they include verbal domestic disturbances? Is it just the impression 911 operators are getting from their call volume? Someone can take the time and do a true statistical analysis but that ain’t it. As of less than 2 weeks ago the NYPD has not shown an increase of DV reports to the point that the commissioner was concerned victims are not calling for help. Things may have changed in 12 days. The NYPD has led the nation in statistical analysis of crime. [https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-nypd-commissioner-shea-domestic-violence-20200331-g76o4fgi3revtoupnwal3kusx4-story.html%3FoutputType=amp](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-nypd-commissioner-shea-domestic-violence-20200331-g76o4fgi3revtoupnwal3kusx4-story.html%3foutputType=amp) ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378/27 "2020-04-12T21:30:35Z")
I expect the nation’s drug dealers are in a bind. I’ve no idea how it works anymore, but their must still be far too many personal meetups. Could they now be a dying breed? ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378/28 "2020-04-12T21:35:28Z")
Had four shootings the past two days. Which is about normal. In my neighborhood, car break-ins are way up. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378/29 "2020-04-12T21:57:38Z")
> [@TheCuse](#): > > Had four shootings the past two days. Which is about normal. > > In my neighborhood, car break-ins are way up. We had a bunch of car break-ins when the quarantine started. They were all in one area and I suspect from one or two guys. Not much since. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378/30 "2020-04-12T22:01:35Z")
I’ve read that its killing the New York mafia, as many of the businesses that they have their hand in are closed. The Italian mafia, the version that is actually in Italy on the other hand is working on several scams to cash in on it. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378/31 "2020-04-12T22:11:24Z")
Everything I’ve read is that crime & air pollution are both way down. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378/32 "2020-04-13T03:18:13Z")
_Mass_ killings are so rare that it is hard to really talk about a trend. We commonly say the US suffers one about every week. I have seen no change in that. ---
**Author:** ![Esprise\_Me](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprise_me/32/2947_2.png) [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378/33 "2020-04-13T04:01:37Z")
Oddly, I’ve noticed a lot of people driving as if they’ve just seen a cop in the rearview, when there’s no cop in sight. Traffic is finally light enough that you can exceed the speed limit even at rush hour, but people are staying way under it. People aren’t even honking at the person in front of them who failed to notice the light turned green. A Facebook friend of mine who lives in San Francisco posted today that she’s temporarily moving to her mother’s house here in LA because she doesn’t feel safe. She lives in a nice neighborhood but has been followed and even chased near her home in broad daylight. She is Asian and didn’t bring up the racial angle; when asked she said she wasn’t sure if that had anything to do with it or if those folks were just feeling emboldened by the empty streets. LA’s streets aren’t empty. If someone tried something here, there would probably be witnesses. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378/34 "2020-04-13T05:05:08Z")
I’ve put my mask to optimum use by taking up bank robbery. [Some burglars hit a local business last night despite an 11pm-3am curfew for Easter weekend.](https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/04/13/honolulu-business-uses-broken-window-call-out-thieves/) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2020, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378/35 "2020-04-18T14:17:26Z")
[Speeding evidently is up.](https://wtop.com/dc-transit/2020/04/drivers-caught-speeding-over-100-mph-nationwide-during-lockdown/) ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378/36 "2020-04-19T20:52:49Z")
Well, the virus has laid a [big hit on illegal drugs and drug criminals.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/cartels-scrambling-virus-snarls-global-141856394.html) Interesting, the article notes that a lot of these drugs came from China, and from Wuhan in particular. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378/37 "2020-04-19T22:18:59Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Well, the virus has laid a [big hit on illegal drugs and drug criminals.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/cartels-scrambling-virus-snarls-global-141856394.html) Interesting, the article notes that a lot of these drugs came from China, and from Wuhan in particular. Beware CT! So the release of SARS-CoV-2 by the Wuhan lab was a tool to hurt or kill the local drug trade? Maybe because the lab wasn’t getting its cut of the profits? How will this work out long-term for global drug trafficking? Will prices rise when lockdowns end? ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378/38 "2020-05-12T00:48:38Z")
I can’t find it now but a couple days ago I read an article about gun violence in Chicago being just as high although LA and NY had decreased. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378/39 "2020-05-23T13:39:04Z")
Robocalls are down. It turns out that scammers have to go to call centers that are now locked down, particularly in overseas countries. They’re predicting that scam calls will come back in force after the lockdown is lifted with so many people out of work. There will be many more debt collector calls, while not technically scammers, they’re hassling calls that have gone down during the pandemic. [Coronavirus pandemic claims another victim: Robocalls](https://www.ksl.com/article/46756196/coronavirus-pandemic-claims-another-victim-robocalls) > [@](#): > > YouMail, which offers a robocall-blocking service, says 2.9 billion robocalls were placed in April in the U.S., down from 4.1 billion in March and 4.8 billion in February. That’s a daily average of 97 million calls in April, down from 132 million in March and 166 million in April. > > The main reason: many global call centers have closed or are operating with fewer workers, said YouMail CEO Alex Quilici. While it may be odd to think of scams being run out of call centers rather than a dark, creepy basement or a garage, that’s often the case, particularly in countries such as India and the Philippines, experts said. > > After a lockdown order went into effect in India in late March, “we saw the volume of calls basically half the next day,” Quilici said. \*I’m not sure if this should be in the crime thread since some robocalls aren’t illegal, but this is the closest thread I could find that this fit, and it definitely doesn’t warrant its own thread. ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378/40 "2020-05-23T20:40:39Z")
I don’t think I personally have experienced less volume of unsolicited phone calls. Caller IDs of “800 Service”, random places near where I live instead of a name, “Name Unavailable” and “Private Caller” haven’t seemed to slow down much. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effect-of-the-coronavirus-on-crime/851378.md?page=3)