Crime

Property Crime

An action that involves the taking of property without the use of violence is considered to be a property crime. The United States Department of Justice features a division known as the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program that keeps track of various types of crime. They list property crimes in four separate categories.

Burglary

This crime involves gaining entrance into a home, building or structure through an illegal method and taking property that belongs to others. The term structure is given a wide definition which includes barns, trailers, boats and any spot in which personal items may be stored.

Burglary is categorized in three separate methods by the UCR: forcible entry in which the burglar breaks a window, forces a door open or uses some other method of force to gain entry; unlawful entry in which the burglar discovers a means of entrance into a structure such as through an unlocked door or open window; or attempted forcible entry in which a burglar makes any attempt at forcing their way into a structure with the intent of taking property.

Larceny

Larceny is any type of theft that involves the permanent removal of property from its rightful owner. This includes shoplifting, taking items from the pocket of another person and the theft of property from an individual. If violence is involved in the theft, it is no longer considered to be larceny.

There are two general types of larceny. Petty larceny involves the theft of property that has a low monetary value (usually under $50), while grand larceny is the taking of property that has a value of $200 or more. The actual dollar amount which constitutes either petty or grand larceny may vary from state to state.

Motor Vehicle Theft

The USC defines motor theft as the taking of any car, truck, SUV, bus, motorcycle scooter or other type of automobile that operates on solid land. Any vehicle that does not run on land, such as a train, airplane or boat, is not included in this category. The theft of any vehicle must have been intended for a permanent basis, with no intent of returning the vehicle at any time. Vehicles that are taken without permission and later brought back are not counted.

Arson

Any attempt to set a house, building, vehicle or other form of personal property on fire is arson, even if the attempt is not successful. The intent behind the act is not considered to be relevant; a fire set in an act of insurance fraud, to cause harm to another person or simply just for the personal enjoyment of the fire starter is still thought of and punishable as Arson.

Property crime is not violent in nature, but it does cause harm to the victims. Between the years 2002 and 2006, it is estimated that property crime was responsible for loss of nearly $17.6 billion dollars in the United States.