wa2 summary

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Chapter 11: Property Crimes -Slides and data in this outline are from Adler, Mueller, and Laufer (2007,

2013, 2018, & 2022); Siegel (2015); and modified by Manning (2007, 2013, 2015, 2018, & 2022).

Crimes Against Property

Larceny (Theft or Stealing)

• Larceny is the prototype of all property offences: purse snatching, shop lifting, art theft, and vehicle theft.

• Larceny The most prevalent crime in the USA • Elements of Larceny

• A trespassory • Taking and • Carrying away of • Personal property • Belonging to another • With the intent to deprive the owner of the property permanently.

• Involves a trespass, taking for ones own use the property of another (without permission), by means other than force or threats on the victim • Or forcibly breaking into a persons home or workplace with the intent to deprive the owner

of their property permanently.

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Extent of Larceny

• UCR reported 4.2 million thefts in 2018 a rate of 1,594.6: 100,000 • Down some from 2014 when it was 5.8 million. • NCVS 2 x UCR rates. Neither includes autos. Majority without victim contact.

• 2 types of thieves • Amateur Thieves – occasional offenders who tend to be opportunists • Professional Thieves – make a career of stealing • Edwin Sutherland says the Professional Thieves have 5 characteristics:

• Well developed skills • Status among subculture group • Consensus of shared values • Learn from and protect each other • They are organized however loosely

Other Types of Larcenies Shoplifting

• Shoplifting – taking goods from retail stores • Snitch theft for personal use or out of urge

• Many steal because they want merchandise but can afford it.

• Some thrill steal

• Boosters less than 10% intent to resale for profit

• Controlling shoplifting • Less than 10% detected

• 45.5% are prosecuted.

• 41% White, 29% Black and 16% Hispanic.

• Over half of shoplifting between noon and 6 p.m.

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Other Types of Larcenies Art Theft

• Art theft has increased in recent years. It can include shoplifting, burglary, and robbery to steal an individual art, illegally export art or pillage archaeological sites. • “1986 a gang of Irish thieves invaded an estate in Ireland with commando

precision and made off with 11” priceless paintings (Adler, Muller & Laufer, 2018, p. 263).

• Professional art theft requires ability to fence stolen goods. • No one knows the value as one painting maybe worth $50 and another $50

million.

• Movie and music Art Theft – is a trade mark violation • A ring of bootlegger may earn up to $50,000 per week selling piracy videos.

Other Types of Larcenies Motor vehicle theft

• Auto theft –the most reported crime

• 748,841 reported motor vehicle thefts in 2018 (228.9:100,000). • Up 9% from 2014 but still overall down from 2009 (Adler, Mueller, & Laufer, 2022).

• Types of motor vehicle theft • Strip and run • Scissor job • Valet theft • Insurance fraud • Carjacking is considered a combination of auto theft and robbery. Most often (7 out of 10)

with threat of gun. • Amateurs are most often juveniles joyriding or racing or steal for swag. • Some (older criminals) use stolen vehicles for long term transportation • Professional steal based on consignment – can sell altered falsifying registration or part out

vehicles at 3x values.

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Auto and Boat theft prevention

• Auto Theft Prevention • Steering shaft locks

• High tech tracking systems – Lo-Jack

• Unbreakable Autolock

• Silent Scorpion

• Safer Parking lots.

• Boat Theft –no FBI stats till 1970 • Prevention: lock devices, alarm systems and marina guards

Fraud

• The acquisition of another persons property through cheating or deception.

• Obtaining property by false pretenses. • The victim is made to part with property voluntarily as a result of the perpetrators untrue

statements regarding a supposed fact.

• Confidence games – offender gains the confidence of the victim and induces the expectation of a future gain.

• Credit Card theft • Amateurs use stolen card for 2 to 3 days. • Professionals contact victim with story (ask for security number) • Credit card fraud in 2014 exceeded $16 billion (Adler, Mueller & Laufer 2018).

• Check forgery • Altering a check with intent to defraud. • Naïve believe no one is harmed

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Auto Insurance Fraud

• Over $60 billion paid insurance claims per year. • Estimated 10-15% of claims are fraudulent.

• Auto insurance schemes include: • Staged claims

• Owner dumping

• Abandoned vehicles

• Staged accidents

• Intended accidents

• Caused accidents.

Filing Fraudulent Health Insurance Claims

• Health Insurance schemes include: • Overutilization

• billing for unnecessary and superfluous tests

• Ping-Ponging • physicians referring patients to several practitioners when symptoms do not warrant

such referrals

• Family Ganging • A doctor extends several unnecessary services to all members of a patients family

• Steering • Doctors direct patients to the clinic’s pharmacy to fill unneeded prescriptions.

• Upgrading • A patient is billed for services more extensive than those that were actually performed.

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High-Tech Crimes

• Involves the attempt to pursue illegal activities through the use of advanced electronic media.

• High technology = use of sophisticated electronic devices such as computers, cell phones and the internet. • Hacking – Hackers seek entry into a computer system and snoop around often

leaving no sign of entry. They have little criminal intent.

• Criminal intent involves the stealing of credit cards, or sensitive information, vandalism, and planting of viruses.

High-Tech Computer Crimes

• Types of computer schemes: • Industrial Espionage – gather info • Software Piracy • Pornography Online • Online gambling • Mail Bombing • Password Sniffers • Credit Care Fraud

• Who are high tech criminals? • Most hackers are 14-19 year old white males who see themselves as a

counterculture fighting censorship and liberating information from corporations. • Believe themselves to be modern day Robin Hoods.

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Burglary

• Common law Burglary was the breaking and entering of the dwelling house of another person at night with the intention to commit a felony or larceny inside.

• Today the UCR defines burglary as the unlawful entry into a structure to commit a felony or theft.

• Best evidence of intent (misdemeanor larceny vs felony) what the burglary actually does from stealing jewelry vs committing a rape.

• Fencing: receiving stolen property • In 2018 1.2 million burglaries were reported to police. Down from 1.7 in 2014. • Average loss $2,799 • Account for 1/5th index crimes and most are not cleared.

Arson • Common Law: only included dwelling of another person.

• Current statutes: include structure other than homes. • Willful, malicious burning of home, public or commercial buildings, vehicle, crops.

• Considered more violent then B/E but Arson is fairly infrequent

Juveniles account for the largest share of Arson

3 types of Juvenile fire starters -Playing with matches -Crying for help -Severely disturbed

Adult Arsonists -Some mental issues = Pyromaniacs Need to look for the motive to classify others: -Revenge, jealousy, and hatred -Financial gain (mostly insurance fraud -Intimidation and/or extortion (often with organized crime) -Need for attention -Social protest -Arson to conceal other crimes -Vandalism and accidental fire setting