BETWEEN 1960 AND 1975, THE FBI REPORTS THAT CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY HAVE INCREASED AT LEAST 178 PERCENT. BECAUSE STEALING IS BECOMING COMMONPLACE, THE WORLD IS BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE A PRISON WITH BARS ON BUILDINGS AND BUSINESSES, SECURITY GUARDS AND TELEVISION SURVEILLANCE IN STORES, AND EXPENSIVE BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEMS IN BUSINESSES AND RESIDENCES. A GENERAL LACK OF HONESTY HAS CREATED A SITUATION IN WHICH NO ONE WILL EVEN LEND ANYTHING WITHOUT A SIGNATURE OR A DEPOSIT. IN ADDITION, MANY SERVICE STATIONS REFUSE TO ACCEPT CASH AT NIGHT, AND CASHIERS ARE LOCATED IN CAGES TO PROTECT THEM FROM ROBBERS; CONSEQUENTLY, SPENDING MONEY IS EVEN DIFFICULT. INCREASES IN SHOPLIFTING MAKE PRICES HIGHER BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE TO STORES FOR STOLEN MERCHANDISE, GUARDS, AND SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS. INCREASED PRICES BURDEN ALL SHOPPERS, AND SECURITY DEVICES LIMIT THE FREEDOM OF HONEST CITIZENS. SCENES IN THE FILM DEPICT THE SECURITY SYSTEMS IN STORES AND RESIDENCES AND THE 'RIPOFFS' THAT FORCE PEOPLE TO LOCK UP THEIR POSSESSIONS AND ADD TO THE ATMOSPHERE OF MUTUAL DISTRUST. A BICYCLE, IGNORED FOR A MOMENT BY ITS OWNER, IS STOLEN; TOWELS AT A PUBLIC POOL ARE NO LONGER PROVIDED BECAUSE OF THEFT; AND A WOMAN NEEDING GAS FOR HER CAR MUST PAY FOR THE CONTAINER INSTEAD OF BORROWING IT. BY DEPICTING STEALING AS A PROBLEM THAT EFFECTS EVERYONE ADVERSELY, THE FILM PROVOKES DISCUSSION OF THE CAUSES AND POSSIBLE PREVENTION OF STEALING.