Mortgage stress may be behind Bible belt crime

This article's about Austra;ia..but I just LOVED the title & had to post it.. It's probably the same story here, anyway :)

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/11/23/1195753310068.html

Jordan Baker Chief Police Reporter
November 24, 2007


SYDNEY'S Bible belt is known for its McMansions, aspirational voters and enthusiastic church-goers. But the conservative, affluent Hills District is also in the grip of a crime wave - and mortgage stress may be behind it. Over the past four years, Baulkham Hills Shire has experienced rising rates of violence and robbery. Domestic violence has risen by almost 20 per cent, assault is up by almost 10 per cent and harassment by 23 per cent.

There have been five murders in the past two years; there were none in the five years before that. They include the stabbing murder of Richard Carruthers, the 36-year-old redesigner of the Olympic cauldron, in his Castle Hill home. Three of the murders remain unsolved. Earlier this year, a massive liquid ecstasy seizure was made at Castle Hill Industrial Estate, and in September two eight-year-old girls were sexually assaulted behind a basketball stadium in the Fred Caterson Reserve.

Figures from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research also show a rise in the number of break and enters, malicious damage, breaching of bail conditions, stealing from motor vehicles and cannabis charges in the four years to June 30.

Despite the increase, the area has a low crime rate compared with other parts of Sydney.

snip

they've obviously been READING the bible....

- K&R

:rofl: