The number of robberies at convenience stores around the country rose 52 percent to 828 in the first 11 months of this year, compared with the same period in 2008, according to the National Police Agency.

The number has already surpassed 812 robberies in 2004, the worst year on record. The NPA started compiling the data that year.

Experts attribute the jump to the recession, which has caused the unemployment rate to go up.

Other crimes that do not require much criminal expertise, such as shoplifting and purse snatching, are also on the increase.

There were 137,000 cases of shoplifting between January and November, up 3.6 percent, and 17,600 cases of purse snatching, up 1.3 percent, according to the NPA.