Lesson 11 – Property Crime and Fraud Robert Wonser Introduction to Criminology Crime and Delinquency 1

Introduction Property crime Is very costly Generally in the billions 2

Defining Property Crime Burglary Unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or a theft Larceny-Theft Unlawful taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession or constructive possession of another 3

Defining Property Crime Motor Vehicle Theft The attempted or completed theft of a motor vehicle Arson Any willful or malicious burning or attempt to burn, with or without intent to defraud, a dwelling house, public building, motor vehicle or aircraft, personal property of another, etc. 4

Defining Property Crime Forgery/Counterfeiting Buying, receiving, and possessing stolen property Embezzlement 5

Extent of Property Crime NCVS and UCR note how common property crime is Has declined since the early 1990s Target hardening Demographic changes 6

Patterning of Property Crime Highest in the South Offenders are predominantly Young Male White 7

Social Organization of Property Crime Social Organization Refers to the roles that different property criminals play and the social networks that support their criminal ways Professional theft Amateur (opportunistic) theft 8

Professional Property Criminals Older More skilled Careful planning 9

Social Organization of Property Crime Shoplifters Boosters – professionals who resell what they steal Snitches – steal for their own personal use Motor vehicle theft Joyriding 10

Burglary Types of burglars: (based on their scale of their crimes and can move around the hierarchy through their careers) Low-level – individual thieves with loose connections to other thieves. They’re indiscriminate in their connections and choice of crimes. Middle-range – involved in larger, less exclusive thief networks High-level – small network of highly committed thieves who remain apart from other small- time criminals. 11

Burglary Support System Tipsters Let burglars know about safe, attractive targets Fences Dispose of stolen property 12

Decision Making in Burglary Some disagreement in the research Choosing geographic areas Look for signs of those on vacation Targets at work/school for long periods 13

Property Crime Victimization: Costs and Circumstances Costs are Economic In 2011, victims of burglary lost $4.2 billion Psychological Violation of privacy and personal space 14

Property Crime Victimization: Costs and Circumstances Larceny In 2011, cost $5.4 billion Motor vehicle theft In 2011, cost $4 billion Arson In 2011, cost $600 million 15

Explaining Property Crime Cultural emphasis on economic success Techniques of neutralization Fencing 16

Explaining Property Crime Economic deprivation and unemployment Routine activities and social process theories Thrill-seeking Example: shoplifting 17

Reducing Property Crime The criminal justice system Harsher sentences/punishments Situational prevention Cameras Improved lighting 18

Situational Prevention Target hardening Efforts to make residences and businesses more difficult to burglarize and motor vehicles less vulnerable to theft Stronger locks and burglar alarms Research supports target hardening practices 19

Situational Prevention Community Prevention Focuses on streets and whole neighborhoods Street lights Camera surveillance Reconfiguring physical space Neighborhood watch 20

Fraud Deceit or trickery used for financial gain or for some other material advantage Identity theft Tax fraud Insurance fraud Computer fraud and computer crime 21

The Cost of Fraud Property crime costs $16 billion annually Fraud Identity theft: $53 billion Tax fraud: $385 billion Insurance fraud: $100-$400 billion 22