Of course soviet system had crime and violence. And these products of soviet system super blew up right after it fell, ceasing opportunity no matter who or what they harmed.
> But rather a sign of decaying times (the fall of the USSR and the economic hardship).
Nope, people turned to crime, because it was available. You did not seen poor people turning to crime because of economic hardship, you have seen average people or people with money to turn to crime, because there was good crime opportunity.