Deck 10: Property Crime

Question 1

According the National Crime Victimization Survey, property crimes account for more than __________ percent of all victimizations.

A) 30
B) 50
C) 78
D) 90

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Property crime is defined as the unlawful damage to or taking of

A) property of another, regardless of whether the threat of or actual use of physical violence occurs.
B) property of another by means of physical violence.
C) property of another without the threat of physical violence.
D) property of another.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Professional property offenders differ from amateur property offenders in that

A) professionals are well aware of the illegal acts they commit.
B) amateurs take property that does not belong to them.
C) professionals plan their crimes and specialize in one particular type of offense.
D) there is no difference between professionals and amateurs.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Amateur property offenders typically commit their crimes

A) after careful planning.
B) when the opportunity presents itself.
C) with others.
D) with specialization and skill.

Question 5

Robbery is a property crime that involves

A) face-to-face contact between offender and victim.
B) the threat or actual use of force.
C) a property transaction.
D) all of the above.

Question 6

Where do most robberies occur?

A) In convenience and liquor stores.
B) On streets and highways.
C) In private residences.
D) In banks.

Question 7

What proportion of robberies result in physical injury sufficient to require medical care?

A) one-fifth
B) one-fourth
C) one-half
D) two-thirds

Question 8

Which crime is more likely to result in physical injury to the victim?

A) larceny
B) armed robbery
C) shoplifting
D) strong-arm robbery

Question 9

According to Luckenbill's research, which of the following is NOT one of the four stages of the "transaction" of robbery?

A) Offender creates a "copresence."
B) Victim determines whether to resist, creating a common robbery frame.
C) The property is transferred.
D) The offender is arrested.

Question 10

One of the problems with Luckenbill's research is that it implies __________ between offender and victim.

A) cooperation
B) equality
C) agreement
D) collusion

Question 11

Professional robbers carefully plan their crimes, and exhibit

A) sophisticated skill.
B) respect for the victims.
C) remorse when caught.
D) their riches abundantly.

Question 12

Opportunist robberies are usually sloppy in their planning and are more likely to

A) go undetected.
B) result in the victim being injured.
C) fail.
D) victimize the wealthy.

Question 13

Wright and Decker's research on armed robbery indicates how robbers

A) decide to commit armed robbery.
B) choose their targets.
C) commit the offenses.
D) all of the above.

Question 14

Wright and Decker's study revealed that when deciding to commit an armed robbery, many offenders have a pressing need for cash because of their

A) poverty.
B) self-indulgent activities.
C) family-life demands.
D) community's deterioration.

Question 15

When choosing a target for an armed robbery, Wright and Decker's research revealed that most offenders prefer

A) the elderly who wear fur coats.
B) street-corner drug dealers.
C) young teenagers who prowl the streets.
D) rich white men.

Question 16

When committing an armed robbery, perpetrators usually

A) work alone.
B) speak softly so others won't overhear the transaction.
C) create an illusion of impending death.
D) exhibit control over the situation.

Question 17

Burglary is defined by the FBI as unlawful entry of a house, business, or

A) other structure.
B) other structure with the intent to commit a misdemeanor.
C) other structure with the intent to commit a violent felony.
D) other structure with the intent to commit a felony.

Question 18

The FBI categorizes burglary as either forcible entry, unlawful entry without force, or

A) attempted forcible entry.
B) breaking and entering.
C) legal entry without consent.
D) nonconsensual entry.

Question 19

Amateur burglars commit their crimes

A) for the excitement of it.
B) when they're feeling restless.
C) when the need arises.
D) whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Question 20

Amateur burglars are more likely to remove from homes items that are

A) easily transportable.
B) valuable.
C) suitable for pawning.
D) all of the above.

Question 21

Amateur burglars are generally

A) quiet and shy.
B) opportunistic.
C) honest in other areas of their lives.
D) incompetent and caught easily.

Question 22

Professional burglars are specialists who employ a significant level of skill in their crimes and

A) have been trained in apprenticeships with other professionals.
B) have picked up the skills by watching action movies.
C) are eager to show off their skills for police.
D) are former security workers.

Question 23

Which of the following is NOT common among burglary?

A) Burglars have a need for fast money.
B) Most of the burglar's profits are spent on a "partying" lifestyle.
C) Burglars choose buildings to burglarize based on external cues.
D) Residential burglary is most often committed at night.

Question 24

According to Tunnell's research, most chronic property offenders commit their crimes for the sense of accomplishment it provides, as well as

A) for revenge.
B) for sport.
C) to gain power over someone else.
D) all of the above.

Question 25

According to Tunnell's research, most chronic property offenders

A) carefully weigh the possibility of being caught.
B) figure prison time into the list of possible consequences.
C) do not think about the risk of being caught or punished.
D) are strung out on drugs when they commit their crimes.

Question 26

Based on Tunnell's findings, crime control policies that emphasize severe punishments appear to have no deterrent impact on

A) white-collar criminals.
B) persistent property offenders.
C) prostitutes.
D) domestic abusers.

Question 27

When street culture emphasizes life as a "party," robbery and burglary become solutions for obtaining the badly needed __________ to adequately participate in the party.

A) alcohol
B) drugs
C) fast money
D) music

Question 28

According to the FBI's definition, larceny is the unlawful taking of

A) property.
B) property from the possession of someone.
C) property from the possession of someone other than one's employer.
D) property from the possession of someone for the purpose of reselling it.

Question 29

Which of the following is correct regarding larceny?

A) The NCVS reports two times as many victimizations as the UCR.
B) Most larcenies are reported to police.
C) Higher value larcenies are more likely to be reported to police.
D) Both a and c are correct.

Question 30

Shoplifting involves

A) stealing property from a retail store while posing as a customer.
B) stealing property from a retail store while using a weapon to secure the items.
C) stealing property from a close relative or friend without their knowledge.
D) "borrowing" money to buy from a retail store.

Question 31

There are two kinds of shoplifters, according to early research by Cameron:

A) soft-core and hard-core.
B) boosters and snitches.
C) rebels and sidekicks.
D) hawks and doves.

Question 32

Most shoplifting is committed by

A) professionals.
B) "normal" people who don't consider themselves criminals.
C) employees.
D) people in their mid-60s trying to get by on Social Security.

Question 33

"Snitches" are the type of shoplifters who will take items from stores to

A) sell them on the street.
B) sell them to a fence.
C) use the items for themselves.
D) give them away as gifts.

Question 34

Most shoplifting is __________, where the offender doesn't really think too much about it.

A) impulsive
B) compulsive
C) repulsive
D) obsessive

Question 35

Motor vehicle theft is the unlawful taking or attempting to take

A) a motor vehicle.
B) a motor vehicle, such as an automobile, van, truck, or motorcycle.
C) a motor vehicle, such as an automobile, van, truck, or scooter.
D) a motor vehicle, such as an automobile, dirt bike, or all-terrain vehicle.

Question 36

The most common motivation for automobile theft is

A) profit.
B) long-term use.
C) short-term use.
D) joyriding.

Question 37

Professional auto thieves steal cars for

A) profit.
B) long-term use.
C) short-term use.
D) joyriding.

Question 38

Auto-theft rings operate on

A) a regional and statewide level.
B) a national level.
C) an international level.
D) all of the above levels.

Question 39

Fraud is a uniquely interesting crime to study because it often

A) involves complex transactions.
B) is difficult to detect.
C) requires a large group of people to complete.
D) is committed by innocent-looking people.

Question 40

Naive check forgers are amateurs who commit the crime only when they have

A) an opportunity.
B) an urgent need for money.
C) a "regular business" transaction to conduct.
D) a desire for the "fast and luxurious life" of the wealthy.

Question 41

Systematic check forgers are professionals who commit the crime as

A) a "regular business," or who engage in it for the alleged "fast and luxurious life."
B) a means to help a destitute family member.
C) a short-term loan of resources they didn't earn.
D) part of a fraud ring.

Question 42

Which of the following is true regarding tax fraud?

A) Most taxpayers do not commit tax fraud.
B) Due to the large amount of loss, tax fraud is one of the most serious types of fraud.
C) Most lost tax revenue is the result of underreporting of income.
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 43

During the process of committing check guarantee fraud, the term "ride" refers to

A) the total number of cards used by frauds with just one transaction.
B) the total number of banks visited by frauds with just one credit card.
C) the total number of banks visited by frauds with just one check.
D) the total number of cars issued to one person when securing a bank loan.

Question 44

Fencing involves a complex network of underground trade in stolen goods, and participants include

A) thieves.
B) law enforcement officers.
C) small business owners and customers.
D) all of the above.

Question 45

Arson is responsible for __________ deaths and injuries than any other type of crime identified as a felony by the FBI.

A) far more
B) far less
C) about the same amount of (combined)
D) as many (except for murder)

Question 46

Brady's classic study of arson in Boston connected arson for profit to

A) criminal corporations.
B) criminal banks.
C) criminal syndicates.
D) major banks and criminal syndicates.

Question 47

Which of the following is a true statement about the mid-1990s church arsons?

A) They occurred in every geographic region of the United States.
B) The overwhelming majority of offenders were white.
C) The overwhelming majority of offenders were African American.
D) More than three-fourths of the churches were African American.

Question 48

Which type of automobile theft is least common?

A) joyriding
B) carjacking
C) short-term transportation
D) for-profit

Question 49

Robbery is a property crime that involves direct face-to-face interaction between the offender and the victim.

Question 50

Strong-arm robbery is more likely to result in injury and death than armed robbery.

Question 51

Male and female robbers are equally likely to use guns during the commission of a robbery.

Question 52

Unlike violent offenders, most property offenders can be classified as either amateur or professional offenders.

Question 53

Burglary involves the direct use of force and violence to gain entry into a building for the purpose of committing another felony.

Question 54

Property offenders commit crimes solely as a means of survival and always use their profits to supply themselves and their families with food, shelter, and clothing.

Question 55

Two major types of check forgers are naive (amateur) and systematic (professional) forgers.

Question 56

Most amateur fences will sell their goods to family and friends, thus undermining their own profit-making.

Question 57

Criminal networks between banks, insurance companies, criminal syndicates, and arsonists have been documented by criminologists and law enforcement officers.

Question 58

Arson results in more death and injury to human beings than any other type of felony reported to the FBI.

Question 59

Even though robbery involves the threatened or actual use of violence, it is uniquely different from other property crimes.

Question 60

Amateur property offenders view their criminal activity as a "way of life."

Question 61

Automobiles are stolen for only one reason-joyriding.

Question 62

Arson is committed for a variety of reasons.

Question 63

Fencing has no connection to legitimate business.

Question 64

Carjacking is the most common and most feared form of auto theft.

Question 65

The NCVS reports that more than two times as many larcenies occur each year than are reported to police.

Question 66

Male robbers are more likely to rob women than men.

Question 67

Compared to other types of fraud, tax fraud results in very low losses overall.

Question 68

Counterfeiting is the fastest growing type of credit card fraud.

Question 69

"Property crime" is a large category comprised of multiple crime types. Write a brief essay that demonstrates your knowledge of property crime. Be sure to address both "property crime" as a category as well as the various forms of property crime.

Question 70

The federal government and some states classify robbery differently. How is robbery variously classified and why?

Question 71

Although there are various types of property crime, one of the things shared across the types is the distinction between professional and amateur property offenders. Demonstrate your understanding of the amateur-profrossional distinction by comparing and contrasting burglary, shoplifting, and fencing.