Preemptive crime?

From the Telegraph:

Fears of a recession fuelled crimewave

I have never been impressed by the argument that poverty causes crime. I am even less impressed with the suggestion that fear of poverty causes crime. But this is the UK where law enforcement is not all that keen on stopping crime. Recently officials in the UK refused to give the names of escapees because they did not want to interfere with their privacy. Such a country is not serious about dealing with criminals.