Fall out from the poor economy

So last night at work one of the people that processes bonds said she had interviewed 20 people who were charged with theft.  I saw a mother and daughter team who got arrested for shop lifting at Walmart.  Here is their scheme.  PIck up several low cost items and put them in the shopping cart, then get a guitar hero set up and put it under the main basket of the cart.  When you are ready to check out you go to the self check out, scan the cheap stuff and then with the guitar hero thing still on the bottom of the cart, head out the door (until security stops you and calls the cops).  Just pitiful.  I might have a little sympathy if they were lifting diapers or food but gifts??  Guess they forgot to sign up for Blue and/or Brown Santa.  I have a problem with that too but that's a whole different story.  I see on the front page of the NY Times an article that said with the downturn in the economy, there is a 10-20% increase in shop lifting.  What do you know!