Blue Collar Crime

Blue collar crime is associated with people from a lower social class than those who commit white collar crimes; it is a blanket term that covers all types of crimes committed by the working class.

Situational crime

One of the primary determining factors in what type of crime a person might commit is the location that person is from, and the circumstances under which they will commit the crime. In other words, people who live in low income areas are more likely to be involved in blue collar crimes simply because they are not in situations where there are large financial dealings or a great deal of wealth. While white collar crimes tend to involve fraud, embezzlement or other high dollar situations, and blue collar crimes tend to be smaller and less profitable acts such as theft, vandalism and muggings.

More dangerous crime

The nature of the crimes associated with the blue collar label are often more dangerous, as they are more likely to involve force, weapons and violence. For this reason, blue collar crimes are more obvious and commonly reported. A thief who slowly steals money from a corporation over time may carefully cover their tracks and never be noticed, while a thief who holds up a convenience store at gunpoint will draw attention and probably warrant a call to the police.

How police fight these crimes

In some areas crime has become so rampant that it is all but impossible to deal with. Some of the methods law enforcement agencies use against blue collar crimes are to more frequently patrol troubled areas, attempting to reach out to the citizens of lower class neighborhoods and encouraging the general public to do their part with neighborhood watch programs. Another important method that is used to discourage crime is a zero tolerance policy. This involves arresting young people on their first offense, and serious punishment for repeat offenders such as the Three Strikes Law.

Unemployment factor

While reports on the connection between unemployment and crime levels are inconclusive, most experts generally agree that areas with higher unemployment levels are likely to have more crime. Those with little or no income can become desperate and turn to crime as a method of obtaining money and other necessities of life.

What you can do

The best way to prevent crime is to take steps to discourage it. Most criminals look for "crimes of opportunity", such as an unlocked home, a car window that is rolled down or a person who is carrying money where it can easily be seen. Avoid being a victim by taking precautions such as locking your doors, not walking alone in bad areas of town (especially at night) and never making it obvious that you have cash or other valuable items with you in public.

Blue collar crime is an ongoing issue that will never be stopped. However, people who live in high crime areas can take steps to protect themselves by working together with law enforcement agencies to deter criminals and report crimes.