NCJ Number
65096
Journal
FORBES Volume: 123 Issue: 8 Dated: (APRIL 16, 1979) Pages: 55-63
Date Published
1979
Length
7 pages
Annotation
PROPERTY CRIMES, RANGING FROM ART THEFTS TO PETTY PILFERAGE, ARE INCREASING RAPIDLY BECAUSE OF THE LARGE PROFITS INVOLVED AND THE LOW CHANCES OF APPREHENSION AND CONVICTION.
Abstract
THEFT NOT ONLY INCREASES BUSINESS COSTS WHICH ARE PASSED ON TO THE CONSUMER THROUGH HIGHER PRICES, BUT ALSO STIMULATES THE INSURANCE AND SECURITY INDUSTRIES. LESS THAN A THIRD OF ALL STOLEN PROPERTY IS RECOVERED AND ONLY 59 PERCENT OF THOSE ARRESTED ARE CONVICTED. BURGLARS HAVE BECOME AS WELL ORGANIZED AS CORPORATIONS AND USE SOPHISTICATED TECHNIQUES. AMATEUR THEFTS FROM SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, AND STORES ARE NOT REPORTED IN THE MEDIA, BUT PROBABLY TOTAL BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. GOODS IN TRANSIT OR STORED IN FREIGHT YARDS ARE MAJOR TARGETS FOR THIEVES WHO OFTEN KNOW WHEN VALUABLE SHIPMENTS WILL ARRIVE. THE KEY TO THE MARKET IS THE FENCE WHO FREQUENTLY SPECIALIZES IN CERTAIN ITEMS AND APPEARS TO BE A LEGITIMATE BUSINESSMAN. SOME FENCES GAIN IMMUNITY FROM THE LAW BY PROVIDING POLICE WITH INFORMATION ON UNSOLVED THEFTS. AN EXPERIMENT CONDUCTED BY THE NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION OF INVESTIGATION DEMONSTRATED THAT BUSINESSMEN ARE USUALLY WILLING TO BUY STOLEN GOODS AND OMIT THE TRANSACTION FROM THEIR RECORDS OR FALSIFY INVOICES. BECAUSE IT IS DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH THAT AN INDIVIDUAL BOUGHT STOLEN GOODS KNOWINGLY, FENCES ARE RARELY CONVICTED. MANY STOLEN GOODS CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED FROM REGULAR INVENTORY ITEMS. UNDERCOVER STING OPERATIONS HAVE EMERGED AS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL METHOD TO CATCH THIEVES. FENCING OPERATIONS SET UP BY POLICE AND VIDEOTAPED HAVE PRODUCED HIGH ARREST AND CONVICTION RATES. BECAUSE OF SOCIETY'S CONCERN WITH VIOLENT CRIME, POLICE DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PURSUE THEFT AGGRESSIVELY. THE AFFLUENCE OF CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO A LACK OF INTEREST IN THE PROBLEM. SPECIAL INSERTS DESCRIBE ART THEFTS AND THE STREET VENDOR TRADE. (MJM)