First, I'm laughing but it really isn't funny.
From my limited reading on these riots, it wasn't necessarily poor or "downtrodden" (to quote the text) folks that were using those credit cards but some priviliged folk as well. Folks with jobs. A nurse. Students. etc. I hate a thief. And I fear mass thievery like everyone who owns something.
Oh well. The total damages for all those riots is about 10 minutes on Fleet Street or Wall St. The street riots do make it clear what we would be like if...