1. Crimes against property and related defences

2. Although offences against the person like murder are most likely to draw media attention, many of us are more likely to be victims of offences against property  Theft, burglary and robbery are some of the more common offences against property

3. Theft

4.  Under Crimes Act 1958 theft is defined as a person dishonestly appropriating property that belong to another person with intention of depriving that person of it  However it is not a theft if that person believes that they have a right to deprive the other person of it, on behalf of himself or a third person  Or if someone appropriates property believing that he or she would have the other’s consent if that person was aware of the appropriation

5. Robbery and burglary  Robbery is when a person uses force or puts another person in fear that he or she will use force in the course of stealing something  Maximum 15 year jail term  If the person uses a weapon, this increases the charge to armed robbery  Burglary occurs when a person unlawfull enters a building with the intention of stealing or committing a crime  The offence may involve assaulting a person in the building or property  Maximum 5 year jail term  Again, if there is a weapon involved, this charge becomes aggravated burglary

6. Defences to burglary and robbery  Duress  Necessity  Intoxication  Lack of intent  Factual dispute – where the defendant claims the facts put forward by the prosecution are wrong and this evidence does not prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt  Mistaken identity – the person committing the crime was actually someone else

8. Crime against property and technology

9. The use of technology has changed how some crimes are comitted  One crime that has flourished is identity crime  This means someone using false identity to commit a crime  It may include equipment to make identification documents or supplying identification information  Making use of identification information  This type of crime may involve for example using someone else’s credit card to put online purchases or illegally accessing someone’s bank account