When the going gets tough, people start snitching.

That seems to be the case, according to this New York Times report.

The Times reports that calls to the Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers hot line in the first quarter of this year were up 30 percent over last year and that San Antonio had a 44 percent increase. There were similar figures across America with callers telling the police they need the money to pay the rent and power bill.

With people turning in neighbors, relatives or former boyfriends, it does raise interesting ethical issues. Yes, it might also have something to do with rising crime rates but it also suggests a wider breakdown of trust and strong bonds. And in hard times, that's a worry.