Property Crimes “…the true measure of crime is – namely, the harm done to society” - C. Beccaria

Introduction Public interest vs. volume “conventional” crimes Approx. 60% Personal injury vs. personal violations “conventional” crimes Break and Enter: Ss. 348-353 … intent of stealing something NO threat of force and no face-to-face

Break and Enter vs. Burglary Target… Residences Businesses Urban over rural Semi-detached over single dwellings Rented vs. owner-occupied Items at risk… audio-/video jewelry

Crimes of opportunity and rational choice Home invasion vs. break and enter Clearance rates 15%! Crime prevention vs. crime displacement ‘seriousness’ vs. social cost (e.g., insurance) Police ability to resolve vs. ‘fortification’

Property vs. white-collar crime or organized crime Credit cards! Fraud: Ss. 380-396 Theft through… Deception, falsehood, or cheating Property vs. white-collar crime or organized crime Credit cards! Role of neutralization Value economic success vs. crime control ? Role of target hardening

“over” and “under” theft ’95 change from $1 to $5,000 14 sections C.C. Cattle to theft by spouse “over” and “under” theft ’95 change from $1 to $5,000 Shoplifting to household articles to inventory shrinkage and vehicle theft WHY? Boredom, thrills, to routine activity theory Target hardening limited success

Arson: Ss. 433-436 NOT a true property but involves destruction of property Relatively rare but economically telling Males vs. females Fraud to thrills to revenge to ‘disturbed’ (see Table 10-4)

‘fire for profit’ vs. accidental Motivation varied ! A career in arson investigation Motor Vehicle Crimes: A North American obsession S. 335 “vessels without consent” (s. 214) Theft…. A $1.6B concern Geographic variation Model variation Males 12-17… “joyriding” Response typically informal!

Role of the automotive industry WHY? Symbolism Peer influence Mere opportunity Profit Role of the automotive industry The Club Keyless entry GIS, etc. Security vs. motivation underlying MTV Integrated and interdisciplinary

SUMMARY Property crime and economic crimes Youth and amateurs Relative nature – arson & theft Prevention…. Target hardening Explanation dominated by sociological perspectives, but… Social, environmental, political, and individual factors - interdisciplinary Role of comparative research

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