This is how you trick an unsuspecting populace into giving you power. Let the criminals onto the streets, support lawlessness and then take the only means of defense away from the people.
Their only recourse is to submit to your control and authority when you ride in as the hero.
Munchausen government.
That was Cleander’s idea during Commodus’ reign in Ancient Rome. He hoarded all the Egyptian grain so he could cause a shortage and then he was going ride in like a hero and distribute the grain. The problem was he waited to long and famine set in and consequently a plague ravaged Rome. Commodus had Cleander’s head paraded on a spike and his body was thrown to the Roman mob.