Would You Resort To Stealing Your Favorite Lip Gloss?

The recession is affecting everyone. From layoffs to budget cuts, a few money problems are inevitable it seems. But in England, those issues are hitting the middle class so hard that people have resorted to crime in order to keep up appearances. Over the past year, shoplifting has increased by 20 percent, while clothing and fashion accessory shops have suffered the most. With unemployment on the rise in New York City and the United States as a whole, do you think we’ll see a similar statistic? Walking down the streets, I’ve seen stores and restaurants closing their doors simply because they can’t afford the rent — the recession is surely at fault. Eating out is a luxury, and buying new clothes simply isn’t a part of tight budget plans. But resorting to petty theft in order to satisfy a craving for new accessories? That’s going a bit far, no? [Times]