NCJ Number
13059
Journal
Security Management Volume: 17 Issue: 6 Dated: (JANUARY 1974) Pages: 47-51
Date Published
1974
Length
5 pages
Annotation
REVIEW OF WHITE COLLAR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND CARGO THEFT, AND A SENATE BILL ALLOWING TREBLE DAMAGES FOR OFFENSES CONNECTED WITH CARGO THEFT.
Abstract
CHESTER H. SMITH, OF THE U.S. SENATE COMMITTE ON SMALL BUSINESS, SPOKE AT THE 19TH ANNUAL ASIS (AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR INDUSTRIAL SECURITY) SEMINAR. HE GAVE FIGURES ON THE ANNUAL COST OF PROPERTY CRIMES AND OF PRIVATE CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS IN THE U.S. HE CITED LARGE INCREASES IN GROSS REVENUES OF PROTECTION FIRMS DUE TO INCREASED NEED FOR THEIR SERVICES. THE FIGURES ON 'WHITE-COLLAR' CRIMES, SUCH AS EMBEZZLEMENT, FORGERY AND FRAUD, ARE INCOMPLETE BECAUSE THEY ARE OFTEN NOT REPORTED. 'WHITE COLLAR' CRIMINALS RECEIVE LIGHT SENTENCES MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. CARGO THEFT CAUSES TREMENDOUS LOSSES EACH YEAR AND MUCH OF IT IS CARRIED OUT BY ORGANIZED CRIMINALS. REPORTING OF LOSSES HAS BEEN LAX, BUT PRODDING BY THE SENATE SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE IS RESULTING IN THE ADOPTION OF MANDATORY UNIFORM LOSS REPORTING SYSTEMS BY ALL CARRIERS. SMITH STRONGLY ADVOCATED PASSAGE OF SENATOR BIBLE'S CIVIL REMEDIES FOR VICTIMS OF RACKETEERING ACTIVITY AND THEFT ACT OF 1973, WHICH IS AIMED PRIMARILY AT FENCES AND SEMILEGITIMATE DEALERS. IT PROVIDES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, FOR SUING THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR STEALING, BUYING OR SELLING GOODS IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE FOR TREBLE DAMAGES BY CARRIERS.