I half-agree with you Zarathus, but I have to point out, the half-not part is, not all criminals are mentally ill. Occasionally 1 may do this, but most of the mentally ill wouldn't, simply because they are too whacked to even form the concept of getting a gun and robbing someone. Yes, it happens, but the majority of those who commit armed robbery aren't mentally ill. They are after money, drugs, or both. This isn't the 'mentally ill' group committing  many of the crimes in Anchorage. It's the junkies, and I wouldn't call them 'mentally ill'. I'd call them addicts, out of control thieves, and well-knowing they have carte blanche to do whatever they want to get their 'fix' because APD won't do a damn thing about it. Only when it gets to Murder do these Drug-Thugs get stopped.
https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/crime-courts/2017/09/17/suspect-shot-robbed-paint-store-owner-within-1-minute-police-say/