We're just a few months away from Mad Max.

[Drastic]

Title stolen from a reddit comment, but debbie says it has a ring to it.

Couple lured away by people living in a forest: "Deputies said they received information that the two women may have been part of a group of people "living off the grid" in the forest, and the group was reported to be "armed and potentially violent."
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/08/16/apopka-man-killed-in-robbery-during-visit-to-national-forest-deputies-say/

There are estimates of up to 45k people living in this forest, according to a non-profit established to rescue kids from there.

---

"Flash Mob" (flashrob? I'm going with that) of over 100 people storm and loot convenience store during a "street takeover" where they block off streets at a 4-way stop light and do stunts in middle of the intersection. Events are coordinated via social media.
https://nypost.com/2022/08/19/los-angeles-flash-mob-of-looters-caught-on-video-ransacking-7-eleven/

[rcjordan]

Some cities already seem to have borderline MM hotspots. Lots of violence on metro transport systems --and that's with my feed filters on.

[littleman]

If we're a few months away from Mad Max we've been there for decades.

Property crime

Homicide rate

We're up in the last couple of years, but we aren't near our peaks. 

[Drastic]

Overall crime may have peaked years ago, but I don't think it was crazy stuff like street takeovers we're seeing today. This guy was walking in with a mac10 and got sideswiped off his feet, for example.

https://www.reddit.com/r/WTF/comments/wwnfq8/truly_a_wtf_moment/

[littleman]

What do you think is causing the change?

[Drastic]

Primarily, a widening between the haves and the have-nots. Secondly, the ability to find and coordinate with others who think like them via sm no matter how extreme their ideals.

[Drastic]

https://www.boston.com/news/national-news/2022/11/23/man-dies-harlem-swarm-atv-dirt-bike-riders/

"The Police Department had confiscated more than 2,000 ATVs and dirt bikes citywide, Sewell said, about 80% more than during the same time in 2021."

Lots of similar, anecdotal experience from redditors in various big cities:
https://www.reddit.com/r/news/comments/z3qkrb/man_dies_after_beating_by_swarm_of_atv_and_dirt/

[littleman]

U.S. gun death rates hit highest levels in decades

[rcjordan]

Retail theft at Walmart may lead to raised prices and store closures, CEO Doug McMillon says - ABC7 Los Angeles

https://abc7.com/walmart-ceo-retail-theft-increased-prices-close-stores/12537978/