Why was there a lot of crime in California during the gold rush (1800s) ?

A lot of crimes that happened there was murder, because if you had to best spot, like at the start of the river, you got a good chance f taking gold before anyone else, so they would want that spot.

Gold=money

1. people want money

2. money lying in the rivers

3. people own certain parts of river

4. other people like their neighboor's gold mine

5. they kill and steal

repeat