Describe the Principal Forms of Property Crime

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Ones first thought regarding property crime is burglary but this is a category, which includes among other crimes, burglary, theft, vehicle crime, arson, shoplifting and vandalism, some of which will be examined deeper within this exercise. According to section 9 of the Theft Act 1968 (not 1963 as in course literature), a person is guilty of burglary if they enter, or attempt to enter any building as a trespasser with the intention to steal, inflict grievous bodily harm, rape or cause unlawful damage. Burglary would become Aggravated Burglary (Section 10) should the offender have with him any firearm, imitation firearm, any weapon of offence or any explosive. As this assignment is solely concerning property crime and not violent crime, burglary will be defined as the entering of a building as a trespasser with intent to steal property or cause unlawful damage. Burglary can be domestic or non-domestic, domestic burglary includes break-ins to all inhabited dwellings, including caravans, houseboats, chalets and also garages and sheds connected to these main buildings. Non-domestic burglary includes burglary of businesses, factories and such outhouses and sheds that are not connected to inhabited property. Approximately 70% of all burglaries use forced entry; a burglar will typically be armed with a simple tool such as a screwdriver or crow bar, not generally to be used as a weapon but to pry open doors or windows, some may actually smash a window or kick a door in. 20% of burglaries are not forced entry; the entry may be made through an unlocked door or open window. Not all burglars actually break into homes, some will attempt to trick or con their way in, these burglars are known as distraction burglars or bogus callers, they generally prey on the vulnerable or aged person. Burglars are most likely to steal cash and small items of value that can be easily

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