Deck 11: Property Crimes

Question 1

In her classic study of shoplifters, Mary Owen Cameron found that about ______ percent of all shoplifters were professionals.

A)5
B)10
C)20
D)40

Answer 1

B

Question 2

A few professionals make a substantial living by passing bad checks. Lemert referred to these persons as:

A)naïve forgers.
B)systematic forgers.
C)opportunistic forgers.
D)methodical forgers.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Cargo thieves are professionals who work in highly organized groups and employ specialists, such as ____, who physically move the goods and work with drivers to transport stolen merchandise from docks.

A)"Shoppers"
B)"Lumpers"
C)"Hubbers"
D)"Payloaders"

Answer 3

B

Question 4

In thieves' argot, amateur shoplifters are called:

A)pilferers.
B)snitches.
C)boosters.
D)heels.

Question 5

The "swoop and squat," the drive down, the sideswipe, and the t-bone are forms of what type of crime?

A)embezzlement
B)third party fraud
C)auto theft
D)confidence games

Question 6

Which theft offenders do not delude themselves by using elaborate rationalizations such as "shoplifting doesn't really hurt anyone?"

A)professional thieves
B)occasional thieves
C)specialized thieves
D)naïve thieves

Question 7

How a larceny is committed can affect its definition. It is automatically considered grand larceny to:

A)steal nonprescription drugs from a retail store or pharmacy.
B)steal any item (money, food, clothing) from a homeless shelter or center.
C)steal food from a grocery or retail store.
D)steal a firearm from a home or car.

Question 8

The definition of larceny evolved with the growth of manufacturing and the development of:

A)a global economy
B)the free enterprise system
C)nation-states
D)international travel

Question 9

Criminologists suspect that, of the millions of property and theft-related crimes that occur each year, most are committed by:

A)professional criminals.
B)specialized criminals.
C)occasional criminals.
D)naïve criminals.

Question 10

In the 18th century skilled thieves found in larger cities, such as London and Paris, congregated in _____ - public meeting places, often taverns that served as gang headquarters.

A)"flash houses"
B)"union houses"
C)"snitch houses"
D)"thief houses"

Question 11

During the eighteenth century _______ moved freely in sparsely populated areas and transported stolen goods, such as gems, gold, and spices, without paying tax or duty.

A)smugglers
B)poachers
C)skilled thieves
D)crusaders

Question 12

English judges created the concept of constructive possession to get around the element of:

A)deceit in the taking.
B)intent in the taking.
C)ownership in the taking.
D)trespass in the taking.

Question 13

Embezzlement occurs when someone who is trusted with property fraudulently converts it. What do we know about embezzlement?

A)Embezzlement goes back to ancient Greece.
B)The number of people arrested for embezzlement has decreased in the past decade.
C)Moving property without an owner's consent is legally defined as embezzlement.
D)Third World countries are immune to embezzlement due to their poverty and lack of economy.

Question 14

______ thieves are opportunistic amateurs who steal because of situational inducements.

A)"Booster"
B)Naïve
C)Occasional
D)Systematic

Question 15

Why have shoplifting incidents increased dramatically in the past twenty years?

A)Because the number of fences and other outlets for stolen goods have increased over the past twenty years.
B)Because professional shoplifters are recruiting amateur shoplifters in an effort to develop shoplifting gangs.
C)Because popular retailers rely on highly visible merchandise displays to attract purchasers.
D)Because shoplifting is commonly committed by teenagers who have comprised an increasing percentage of the population over the past two decades.

Question 16

______ criminals often deny their criminality. These offenders are most likely to respond to the general deterrent effect of the law.

A)Professional
B)Specialized
C)Occasional
D)Systematic

Question 17

To promote the arrest of amateur and professional shoplifters, a number of states have passed _____ laws that are designed to protect retailers and their employees from lawsuits stemming from improper or false arrests of suspected shoplifters.

A)consumer privilege
B)merchant privilege
C)clerk privilege
D)arrest privilege

Question 18

Sometimes adolescents are coerced into shoplifting by older peers. This type of shoplifter is termed a:

A)surrogate shoplifter.
B)chump shoplifter.
C)proxy shoplifter.
D)sucker shoplifter

Question 19

Fifteenth and sixteenth century foreign mercenary troops looted and pillaged the English and French country sides because they felt such theft was:

A)ordered by their kings.
B)not damaging to the rich, property-holding lords.
C)a rightful part of their pay.
D)amusing and thrilling.

Question 20

The FBI's Uniform Crime Report recorded 6.5 million acts of larceny in 2008, which reflects:

A)a continued steep decline over the past decade.
B)a continued sharp increase over the past decade.
C)that the number of larcenies has stabilized over the past decade.
D)that the number of larcenies has continued to fluctuate over the past decade.

Question 21

Snitches are professional shoplifters who steal with the intention of reselling stolen merchandise to fences.

Question 22

Neal Shover studied the careers of professional burglars finding key requirements of "the good burglar." Which is not one of those key requirements?

A)having inside information
B)cultivating a ring of bail bond agents
C)cultivating fences or buyers
D)learning the needed skills

Question 23

The original common-law definition of larceny required a "trespass in the taking."

Question 24

Why do most state jurisdictions punish burglary as a felony?

A)Because, historically, a "man's home is his castle."
B)Because, legally, one's home is afforded greater protection under the U.S. Constitution.
C)Because, unlike an auto, an individual's home is considered a permanent belonging.
D)Because the potential for harm to the occupants is so significant.

Question 25

False pretenses (fraud) involve a "trespass in the taking."

Question 26

Today, fewer stolen cars are recovered due to an increase in highly organized professional auto thieves who resell expensive cars after altering their identification numbers.

Question 27

Female burglars can be divided into groups or categories. Which category of female burglars enjoys the reward and excitement of burglary?

A)partners
B)buddies
C)accomplices
D)associates

Question 28

Most states have changed the legal requirements for burglary, removing the
Element of "forced entry." What is entry via deceit legally considered?

A)destructive breaking
B)fraudulent breaking
C)constructive breaking
D)falsified breaking

Question 29

Female and male burglars show similar offending patterns but specific gender differences do exist. Which is one of those differences?

A)Female burglars have a greater risk of being caught.
B)Female burglars are more likely to be repeat or recurrent offenders.
C)Female burglars begin offending at an earlier age.
D)Female burglars are more likely to work with a partner.

Question 30

Because of their commitment to a criminal lifestyle, professional offenders may be the most likely to respond to the general deterrent effect of the law.

Question 31

Crusaders of the eleventh century felt it was their right to appropriate the possessions of any infidels.

Question 32

Criminologists suspect that most property and theft-related crimes are the work of professional criminals.

Question 33

False pretenses or fraud differs from traditional larceny because:

A)false pretenses requires a "trespass in the taking."
B)the offender has lawful possession but not legal ownership of the possessions.
C)the victims willingly give their possessions to the offender.
D)false pretenses requires constructive intent.

Question 34

An acquaintance stole a Dodge Charger and drove around for a few hours showing off the Charger and acting like its owner. What type of amateur auto theft did your acquaintance commit?

A)carjacking
B)short-term transportation
C)joyriding
D)interim auto theft

Question 35

Petit larceny involves small amounts of money or property and is punished as a misdemeanor.

Question 36

Boosters are otherwise respectable persons who do not conceive of themselves as thieves but systematically steal merchandise for their own use.

Question 37

Embezzlement occurs when someone who is trusted with property fraudulently converts it.

Question 38

Eliminating business competition by burning out rivals is a form of:

A)psychological arson.
B)arson for profit.
C)juvenile fire setting.
D)unskilled arson.

Question 39

Repeat burglars may return to strike a previous target because:

A)police have not likely responded to the first burglary.
B)goods were observed that could not be removed the first time.
C)nosy neighbors are too frightened to call the police.
D)a known target provides a hideout if escape routes are blocked.

Question 40

A new form of professional auto theft is called _____ and involves stealing VIN plates from a luxury auto on a dealer lot and placing the stolen VIN plate on an identical luxury vehicle stolen from a mall or parking lot.

A)vinning
B)cloning
C)tagging
D)plating

Question 41

Shoplifting is a common form of larceny/theft involving the taking of goods from retail stores. Discuss the differences between amateur and professional shoplifters.

Question 42

Discuss the legal evolution of burglary, from its common law definition to its contemporary legal definition.

Question 43

Discuss the factors that differentiate petit or petty larceny from grand larceny.

Question 44

Arson fraud involves a business owner burning her or his property to escape financial problems.

Question 45

Discuss how fraud (false pretenses) and embezzlement differ and how both crimes differ from traditional larceny.

Question 46

Experienced burglars learn to avoid areas of the city in which most residents are home owners and not renters.

Question 47

Of the millions of property and theft-related crimes that occur each year, most are committed by occasional criminals. Other thefts, however, are committed by skilled professional criminals. Discuss the differences between these two types of criminals.

Question 48

Usually, the opportunity to apprentice with an older professional burglar comes as a reward for being a highly respected juvenile gang member.

Question 49

Female and male burglars show similar offending patterns but specific gender differences exist. Discuss these similarities and differences.

Question 50

Some burglars are professionals who make burglary their career. Discuss Neal Shover's "good burglar" and the four key requirements of the trade that novice burglars must develop to be considered a good burglar.

Question 51

Theft of personal property has been known throughout recorded history. Discuss the rich history of theft offenses.

Question 52

How does amateur auto theft differ from professional auto theft? Include in your response a discussion of current forms of professional auto theft.

Question 53

Arson is the willful, malicious burning of a home, public building, vehicle, or commercial building. Identify and discuss the various motivations for arson.

Question 54

The most serious and heavily punished form of burglary involves nighttime forced entry into a home.

Question 55

Like their male counterparts, female burglars are likely to steal cars to supplement their income.