The Great Depression beginning with the October 1929 stock market crash fueled a rise in banditry, with bank robberies becoming particularly notorious. These crimes were made more effective by gangsters' use of automobiles. As one analyst observed in the 1920s: "Cars and good roads have dramatically increased certain types of crime. We now see a new kind of automobile bandit who relies entirely on a car-whether robbing banks, breaking into homes, or mugging pedestrians." The criminals' success was further enhanced by Thompson submachine guns, which boasted rapid-fire capability and earned the nickname "Tommy gun." Notably, these weapons cost around 200 dollars-about half the price of a Ford Model A automobile.