Chapter 10: Crimes Against Property
The category of crimes against property
includes two groups—crimes in which property is destroyed
and crimes in which property is stolen or taken against the
owner's will. During the late 1990s, there were fewer crimes
against property, in part because Americans developed better
ways to prevent these crimes.
Arson and vandalism are examples of crimes
involving the destruction of property. Arson is the intentional
and malicious burning of another person's property. In most
states it is a crime to burn any building or structure, even
if the person setting the fire is the owner. Vandalism is
the willful destruction of or damage to another person's property.
Effects of vandalism include broken windows, graffiti, and
damage to cars.
There are many other categories of crimes
that involve taking property against the will of the owner.
Larceny is the unlawful taking and carrying away of another
person's property with the intent never to return it to the
owner. Most states identify larceny as either grand or petty.
Grand larceny—which is a felony—occurs when anything above
a certain value is stolen. Petty larceny is a misdemeanor
that involves the theft of anything of small value.
Robbery is the taking of property from
a person's immediate possession by using force or threats,
while burglary is the unlawful entry into any dwelling or
structure with the intention to commit a crime. A person who
is entrusted with property but then takes it unlawfully is
guilty of embezzlement. Extortion, which is also called blackmail,
takes place when one person uses threats to obtain another
person's property. The threats may include harm to the victim's
body, property, reputation, or loved ones.
Other crimes against property include forgery,
receiving stolen property, and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
The Internet has led to an increase in computer crime, which
is any unlawful use of a computer or computer technology.
It can involve such acts as the use of a computer to make
fake identifications or the intentional spreading of a computer