Property Crimes

Question 1

Property Crime

Answer 1

Acts in violation of criminal law designed to bring economic reward to the offender

Question 2

Occasional Thieves

Answer 2

Lack of commitment to a criminal lifestyle
Spontaneous
Situational inducements (peer pressure, economic need)
Opportunity structured by class

Question 3

Professional Thieves

Answer 3

Make a significant portion of their income from crime
Highly skilled, usually non-violent
Pocket-picking, burglary, shoplifting, forgery and counterfeiting, extortion, sneak theft, and confidence swindling

Question 4

Sutherland’s “The Professional Thief”

Answer 4

Engage in limited types of crime

Exclusive use of wits, front (a believable demeanor) and talking ability

Occupation with much the same internal organization as legitimate professions

Question 5

Burglary

Answer 5

Any unlawful entry of a structure to commit theft or felony

Most are residential

Urban, rented, multi-family dwellings most at risk

Question 6

Types of burglars

Answer 6

Low level
Mid range
High level

Question 7

Support system for burglars

Answer 7

Tipsters and Fences

Fences earn their living solely by buying and reselling stolen merchandise

The use of a professional fence is the most common method to dispose of stolen goods for professional burglars, but the least common method for the majority of thieves

Question 8

Larceny

Answer 8

Taking (caption) and carrying away (asportation) of another person’s personal property

Separated into petty and grand based on monetary value

Probably the most common crime

Most involve items of little value, often unreported. Others involve complex conspiracies

Question 9

Shoplifting

Answer 9

Form of larceny involving goods being stolen from retail stores

Question 10

Profile of Shoplifters

Answer 10

Profile of Shoplifters:
Professionals (about 10%)
Amateurs
Widespread use of techniques of neutralization among apprehended shoplifters

Question 11

Explaining property crimes

Answer 11

Cultural emphasis on economic success

Widespread use of techniques of neutralization

Economic deprivation and unemployment

Routine activities

Property crime for thrills

Question 12

Reducing property crimes

Answer 12

Harsher punishments do not work

Situational prevention at the individual level: target hardening
Making it difficult for thieves to burglarize, steal cars  alarm systems, locks

Situational prevention at the community level
Street lighting, surveillance cameras
Neighborhood watch  largely ineffective

Improving socio-economic conditions

Question 13

Fraud

Answer 13

Obtaining money or property by false pretense

Identity Theft
Tax Fraud/Evasion
Insurance Fraud
Cybercrime

Question 14

Arson

Answer 14

The willful and malicious burning of a home, public building, vehicle, or commercial building

Most set by adolescents

Professional arson

• Arson for profit
• Arson fraud