As the recession worsens in Mercer County — and across this country — you can’t help but wonder how many amateurs are drawn to crime.

A recent Scripps Howard News Service editorial told of a robber who walked into a Chicago bank and handed the teller a threatening note, then walked off with a pittance — $400. The note was written on his pay stub, containing his name and address, where police arrested him.

While the incident might qualify him for a guest spot on a “World’s Dumbest Crooks” television show, we can’t help but wonder how many of these kind of ill-fated crimes will crop up.

We saw it recently at Citizen’s Bank in Hermitage, where a robber handed the teller a note demanding money. The note said: “No Alarm No Dye Pack Give Me all High Bills! Got Weapon.”

The guy didn’t wear a disguise, allowing for security-camera pictures that would have made any photo studio proud. He didn’t even have a bag and tried to carry out the stack of money — about $3,000 — in his arms. The stack of course did contain a dye pack, which exploded in the parking lot, where he lost most of the money plus got a nice dose of color on his clothes.

The alleged robber was later tracked down and arrested after he was identified from the bank photo and the vehicle used in the robbery was identified.

While he may have been planning robberies anyhow, without impetus from the recession, all businesses and individuals need to realize that crime will rise and precautions need to be taken.

For example, a woman recently robbed a Jamestown store at gunpoint. How many times do you hear of something like that?

In Wednesday’s Herald we had a short police report that money and compact discs were stolen from six unlocked cars in Hermitage.

And just lately on the local front, we’ve seen people steal Christmas gifts left for garbage collectors. How rotten is that?

These are only a few of the recent crimes that hit the county. But these kind of crimes should make people realize that as the economy worsens, so does criminal activity – regardless of how petty the crimes.

So one of the New Year’s resolutions for everyone should be to take precautions against crime. Lock your cars and house doors. Be alert to strangers in your neighborhood.

Even in restaurants, when you leave a tip make sure it’s going into the hands of a server. It’s not uncommon for some people to steal tips off tables.

This is a tough time for everyone. Let’s make it even tougher on would-be crooks who may try to supplement their ill-gotten income at your expense.