Auto-industry downturn even hitting car thieves

A Flickr photo

During difficult economic conditions, crime usually goes up -- but not last year. Yesterday, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation released stats showing a 6.1 percent decrease of major crimes from 2007 to 2008, led by a 22 percent decline in car thefts. Denver Police Department spokesman Sonny Jackson suggested to the Denver Post that longer sentences for habitual offenders could be a factor in the latter drop. But what about the problems afflicting the auto industry as a whole? Does the fact that fewer cars are being manufactured and purchased mean there are fewer to swipe? Or are we all so broke these days that we can't afford to buy a new ride, even from thieves offering a larceny-related discount? Man, times are even tougher than I thought....