[wilfra]

Nice one, ya probably true.

Smartphone and camera ubiquity probably also plays a role. Just as cops know if they try to Rodney King somebody it will be on YouTube an hour later, so are criminals aware there will be a bunch of digital evidence.

Support is given to this by the fact that many of the crimes that are rising are things people can't witness you doing (bank fraud, identity theft etc).

And it's definitely not a silver bullet doing this. It's a combination of all of the factors in the article and here on HN and more we haven't thought of, all doing their part.

[theorique]

Increased respect for the 2nd amendment probably plays a role. Private ownership of firearms means that a home invader may get a face full of lead, which has to act as a deterrent for some.

[jbattle]

not conclusively, but that notion is countered by the fact that crime is down in at least one country where gun ownership is very difficult (UK) while being up in at least one country where it's not so bad (Brazil)

[wanderingstan]

Has private ownership of firearms been increasing in a way that correlates with the decrease in crime?