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War on vice has me reviewing the spate of robberies (5,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

crime wave

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'spate of robberies' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to natural events as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'war on vice has me reviewing' is the wordplay.
'on' says to put letters next to each other.
'has' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'reviewing' indicates anagramming the letters (To re view).
'vice' after 'me' is 'mevice'.
'war' put after 'mevice' is 'mevicewar'.
'mevicewar' with letters rearranged gives 'CRIME WAVE'.

'the' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for crime wave that I've seen before include "Surge in lawbreaking" , "We arm vice (anag)" , "Busy time for law" , "Upsurge in wrongdoing" , "Surge in offences" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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