THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. -- Vehicle prowls have more than doubled from September through early October last year versus the same time this year, said the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.

It's impossible to officially say if a spike in vehicle prowls is directly related to the economy, but victims agree with police it's certainly a possibility

"It's a no-brainer," said prowl victim Cheryl Corrigan. "Desperate people do desperate things."

Last year from September through the first part of October, there were 40 vehicle prowls in Thurston County. This year during that same time period, as the economy faltered, vehicle prowls more than doubled to a total of 98 crimes.

"When the economy goes bad, crime climbs," said Thurston County Undersheriff Brad Watkins.

Corrigan is one of more than a dozen victims of car prowlers in a Thurston County neighborhood.

"They opened up the glove box and rummaged through that," Corrigan said.

"They will steal anything of any value left inside the car. We've had purses taken, wallets taken, laptops taken," said Lt. Chris Mealy of the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.

As crime rates are rising, the sheriff's office is being forced to slash 18 jobs due to budget cuts.

“We have an increasing population. We have decreasing law enforcement presence," Watkins said.

"People got to get by, and unfortunately some of them choose to do it by taking from others," said car prowl victim Debi Wolfe.

The sheriff’s office said although it has seen an increase in property crimes, it has not seen an increase in violent crimes.