4 ms·

This might have something to do with an increase in surveillance and criminal record keeping.

scoofy 3y ago
It might, sure, but it might also have to do with the fact that people carry almost nothing in cash compared to 40+ years ago. In 1985, when I was a child, my father would care around $300 on him effectively at all times. Credit cards were still new, and checks were a limited option, most places you still needed cash. That's the equivalent of $850 today. I rarely carry more than $200 on my person today (less than the cost of a fancy dinner for two in San Francisco). The only reason I'm able to do that is because the vast majority of my transactions settle on a bank card. You can argue that the change is surveillance, but the stark decrease in untraceable value I carry on my person is clearly an incentive for robbery that has been lost. It's also likely a major reason for the near-elimination of pick-pocketing in western society.
- anigbrowl 3y ago
  It's easy to use a stolen credit card, nobody asks for ID. Mugging isn't that uncommon, I interrupted a robbery just over a week ago.
  - scoofy 3y ago
    Again, since the system is based on trust, the vast majority of stolen credit cards results in no serious loss of value to the individual.
    - anigbrowl 3y ago
      I was responding to your argument that there are no economic incentives to mug people. The mugger isn't out to impose a cost on the victim, but to get some free money. Purchasing power on a credit card is just as good, although it's not as flexible/reliable as a wad of cash.
- thebigwinning 3y ago
  I agree. It was more convenient to rob cash which is fungible. But I actually wonder if the rewards are higher today, with everyone carrying >$1000 phones.
  - rippercushions 3y ago
    The street resale value of a stolen $1000 phone is far less than the value of $1000 in stolen cash.
  - rexarex 3y ago
    iPhones are hardware locked now they can only be sold for parts.
    - thebigwinning 3y ago
      Or scams on eBay

It might, sure, but it might also have to do with the fact that people carry almost nothing in cash compared to 40+ years ago. In 1985, when I was a child, my father would care around $300 on him effectively at all times. Credit cards were still new, and checks were a limited option, most places you still needed cash. That's the equivalent of $850 today. I rarely carry more than $200 on my person today (less than the cost of a fancy dinner for two in San Francisco). The only reason I'm able to do that is because the vast majority of my transactions settle on a bank card. You can argue that the change is surveillance, but the stark decrease in untraceable value I carry on my person is clearly an incentive for robbery that has been lost. It's also likely a major reason for the near-elimination of pick-pocketing in western society.

anigbrowl 3y ago
It's easy to use a stolen credit card, nobody asks for ID. Mugging isn't that uncommon, I interrupted a robbery just over a week ago.
- scoofy 3y ago
  Again, since the system is based on trust, the vast majority of stolen credit cards results in no serious loss of value to the individual.
  - anigbrowl 3y ago
    I was responding to your argument that there are no economic incentives to mug people. The mugger isn't out to impose a cost on the victim, but to get some free money. Purchasing power on a credit card is just as good, although it's not as flexible/reliable as a wad of cash.
thebigwinning 3y ago
I agree. It was more convenient to rob cash which is fungible. But I actually wonder if the rewards are higher today, with everyone carrying >$1000 phones.
- rippercushions 3y ago
  The street resale value of a stolen $1000 phone is far less than the value of $1000 in stolen cash.
- rexarex 3y ago
  iPhones are hardware locked now they can only be sold for parts.
  - thebigwinning 3y ago
    Or scams on eBay