Sociology: Chapter 11

Property Crimes

property crimes

involve the illegal taking or damaging of property

what are some examples of property crimes?

burglary, robbery, larceny-theft, fraud, vandalism, and arson

what theft is the single most largest category

motor vehicle theft

whats the trend of property crime?

property crime victimization rate has fallen about 32%

what did the NCVS report regarding property crime?

15 million households suffered a property crime in 2025 which was a decrease of 19%

what did the UCR report regarding property crimes?

about 5.2 million property crimes took place in 2025

why are the rates so different between NCVS vs. UCR?

NCVS reveals dark figure of crime meaning not everyone reports something being taken from them

dark figure of crime

the total amount of unreported criminal activity

larceny

completed or attempted theft of property or cash without perosnal contact

what has the trend of larceny been in the past 10 years?

declined more than 21%

burglary

unlawful or forcible entry or attempted entry of a residence to commit felony

what are the 3 types of bulgaries according to UCR?

1) entrance gained by force

2) unlawful entry without force

3) attempted entrance by force

home invasion

confronts the homeowners or residents

robbery

taking or attemtingt o take naything of value from the care, custody or control of a person

personal robbery

highway robbery, strong arm or unarmed, attempted

examples of personal robbery

institutional robbery

robbing a business or corporation via confrontation

examples of institutional robbery

bank or gas station robbery

where does the united states sit in rank regarding property crimes?

ranks 7th highest

what country has the lowest rate of property crime?

Japan

in teh world, what property crime is the most common form?

larceny-theft

the lower the income the more likley what occurs?

property crime

which gender is more victimized by property crimes?

men

what gender and race has the highest rate of victimization by property crimes?

black males

what gender and race have equal victimization?

white males and black females

what age range has the highest rate of victimization by property crimes?

adolescents

around 80% of time a male is committing a robbery against who?

a stranger

what did Conklin say about larceny?

the offender and victim often know each other

what did wright and decker say about

what are the 3 factors of criminal decision making?

1) essential elements

2) offenders assessment

3) attractiveness

whats essential elements in criminal decision making?

planning and target selection

whats offender’s assessment in criminal decision making?

estimates the risk and available opportunities

whats attractiveness in criminal decision making?

influenced by the location of the target

example of attractiveness in criminal decision making

more likely to commit robbery in corner store in lower income neighborhoods since there’s less rick of detection

what property crime uses improvisation skills and communicative signals?

robbery

what type of property crime is usually planned ahead of time?

burglary

what property crime is acted on in the spur of a moment?

larceny

people are likely to rob people that do other crimes

target selection

cash availability and area assesments

what time of the year does robbery occur most often?

winter

what time of the year does burglary occur most often?

summer

why is burgarly most common in the summer?

people are usually gone on vacation

how does Merton’s anomie apply to property crimes?

if someone can’t reach economic success it creates anomie and low levels of integration can lead to higher levels of proerty crime

how does shaw and mckay social disorganization apply to property crimes?

rates of crime are higher in large urban areas and may be generational to that area so the greater the social disorganization the higher the property crimes

what are millers focal concerns?

trouble, toughness, smartness, belief in fate, autonomoy

how does millers focal concerns apply to property crimes?

the greater the acceptance of focal concerns the greater the property crimes

how does Cohen’s status frustration and reaction formation apply to property crimes?

the more subculture advocates the commisiion of property crime and provides opportunities for its commision the higher the rate of property crimes

how does cloward and ohlin opportunity theory apply to property cirmes?

the more a subculture favors property crime and provides opportunities for its commission the higher the rate

how does Thios power and status relate to property crime?

high power and status

how does sellins primary and secondary conflict apply to property crimes?

the higher ratio of…

what are the 4 elements of hirschis social bond theory?

attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief

how does Hirschi’s social bond theory apply to crime?

those with weaker bonds may commit more property crimes

how does sutehrlands differential association apply to property crimes?

the more you hang around people that commit property crimes the more likely you are to as well

how doe scohen and felsons routine atvity theory..

suitable target, motivated offender and lack of capable guardian increases likelihood of property crimes

what would be considered a capable guardian in property crimes?

security cameras

Katz seduction

cornish clark rational choice thoery

if costs outweigh benefits more likeoyt o commit property crime

sykes and matza technqiue sof neutraliztaion bulgarly

victims incurance will cober the cost of stolen items

robbery

if no weapon no one is actually injured denial of victim

theft

they won’t miss it