An additional conjecture I’ll throw out is that is that as crime declines, it frees up police to investigate crimes and catch non-violent criminals who might no

An additional conjecture I’ll throw out is that is that as crime declines, it frees up police to investigate crimes and catch non-violent criminals who might not be caught if the police were busy dealing with more serious crime. I still remember this anecdote from an article several years ago headlined “As crime dries up, Japan’s police hunt for things to do” [1]. > THE stake-out lasted a week, but it paid off in the end. The tireless police of Kagoshima, a sleepy city in the far south of the country, watched the unlocked car day and night. It was parked outside a supermarket, and contained a case of malt beer. Finally, a passing middle-aged man decided to help himself. Five policemen instantly pounced, nabbing one of the city’s few remaining law-breakers. Can you imagine this happening in San Francisco? [1] https://www.economist.com/asia/2017/05/18/as-crime-dries-up-japans-police-hunt-for-things-to-do https://www.economist.com/asia/2017/05/18/as-crime-dries-up-...