1. Chapter 10: Crimes Against Property
Objective: Student should be able to differentiate between the two groups of crimes against property and identify the correct classification and elements of the criminal charges.

2. Arson
Defined: the deliberate and malicious burning of another person’s property
Has been used as a form of racial violence
Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996: Passed to help prosecutors deal with a rash of racially motivated church arsons

3. Vandalism
a/k/a Malicious Mischief ~ the deliberate destruction or defacement of another person’s property
Depending on the extent of the damage it can be either a felony or misdemeanor

4. Larceny
Defined: the unlawful taking of another’s property with the intent to steal it.
Grand Larceny: A Felony, is the theft of anything above a certain value (usually $100 or more)
Petty Larceny: A Misdemeanor, the theft of anything below a certain value (usually $100 or less)
Shoplifting: A form of larceny in which a person takes items from a store without paying or intending to pay
Concealment: the crime of attempted shoplifting that is recognized by some states

5. Embezzlement
Defined: The taking of money or property by a person to whom it has been entrusted
i.e. a bank teller, or a company accountant
Many states have merged the crimes of Embezzlement, Larceny, & Obtaining Property by False Pretenses into the statutory crime of Theft

6. Robbery
Defined: The unlawful taking of property from a person’s immediate possession by force or intimidation
In most states, the difference between robbery & larceny is the use of force
i.e. pickpocket is larceny v. shove you down and rip your purse out of your arm is robbery

7. Extortion
a/k/a Blackmail: Taking property illegally through threats of harm
Covers threats to do FUTURE physical harm, destroy property, or injurer someone’s character or reputation in order to obtain the property of another

8. Burglary
Defined: Breaking & entering a building with the intention of committing a crime
Many states have stiffer penalties for burglaries committed at night, in inhabited dwellings, or committed with weapons

9. Forgery
Defined: The act of making a fake document or altering a real one with the intent to commit fraud
i.e. signing another person’s name to a check, altering documents (fake ID’s)
Uttering: Offering to someone as genuine a document known to be fake

10. Receiving Stolen Property
Defined: Receiving or buying property that is known or reasonably believed to have been stolen
i.e. buying goods out of the trunk of someone’s car… The fake Gucci v. buying a real Gucci in a store

11. Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle
Defined: Unlawful taking of a car by someone who intends only to use it temporarily
Carjacking: A crime in which the perpetrator uses force or intimidation to steal a car from a driver
Carjacking is a FEDERAL crime & punishable up to a life sentence in prison

12. Computer Crimes
Hackers: A person who illegally accesses government or corporate computer systems
Children’s Internet Protection Act: requires that ALL public libraries purchase & install filtering software on all of their computers or risk losing their federal technology funding.
Computer Fraud & Abuse Act of 1986: Provided the government with specific law to prosecute hackers.