Remember cancelling the newspapers when going on holidays so as to not alert burglars?
Or making sure the neighbours put out the bins, and that one that caused the most argument – whether to leave the curtains open or closed.
Those days would appear to be over if the latest crime statistics are true.
Jackie Fitzgerald, Executive Director, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics, told ABC Radio on Tuesday morning that circa 2012, 80,000 homes were burgled in NSW, but in the past year there have been just 18.
Why is this the case?
COVID-19 has forced repeated state and territory lockdowns and people have been working from home for almost two years.
“There is nothing really worth stealing from a house any more. Your mobile phone is your camera, stereo system, and the reality is there is nothing to steal today,” said Jackie.
The virus has also quickened the pace of a cashless society (Sweden goes totally cashless next year) and there’s the invasion into lives of the smartphone and streaming services.
“Cash is king for today’s thieves.”
We also have had no deaths from influenza and our life expectancy has actually increased.
Makes you wonder why we pay house insurance!
