always happened yes..but to this extent and so many cases? I don't think so. See I can tell you about my own country. SL is a small country and news always spread fast. Years back murders used to be committed and they were always reported about too. but they were few and far between. However in the recent past we read daily of murders and rapes being committed far more than in the past. Older people bare witness to this. So,God knows best, but it sure seems that crimes have increased though of course so has media coverage.