CRJ 105

Property crimes consist of many common crimes involving to theft or destruction of someone else’s property. They can vary from lower level offenses such as shoplifting or damage to high-level felonies including armed robbery and arson. Some such crimes do not involve the offender to make off with stolen goods or even to injure a victim – such as burglary, which only requires unlawful entry with the intent to commit a crime. Others require the actual taking of money or property. Some, such as robbery, require a victim present at the time of the crime. Most property crimes include a spectrum of degrees depending on factors including the amount stolen and use of force or arms in theft related cases, and actual or potential bodily injury in property destruction crimes such as arson.

Shoplifting

Shoplifting is the theft or coverup of merchandise from a retail establishment without the commitment to pay for it, such as placing items in one’s pocket and walking out of a store. In addition to hiding an item to avoid paying for it, shoplifting laws also make it illegal to take actions to avoid paying the full purchase price for an item. This can include altering price tags, manipulating merchandise, and putting goods into different containers or packaging to avoid paying all or part of the purchase price.

On May 20, 2016, at approximately 18:00, officers responded to the Socks for Feet Outlet located at 222 Citation Way. According to the Socks for Feet Security Officer Bo Foot, three people entered the store and began walking down the Big Feet area of the store. Security Officer Bo Foot observed suspect one take three dozen pairs of the Big Guy brand socks and place them down his pants. Security Officer Bo Foot then followed the three suspects into the Hammer Toe section of socks where Security Officer Bo Foot observed suspect two place two dozen pairs of the Hang Nail Free brand of socks into suspect three’s purse. As Security Officer Bo Foot approached the suspects the suspects began to run. As Suspect one began to run, he bumped Security Officer Foot causing him to fall to the floor. All three suspects ran out of the store into the back parking lot of the store. The store owner Clifford Tonell identified the three suspects as Bubba Hurt, Skeeter Redrum, and Summer Breeze.

Penalties1

Like charges for other types of theft, the cruelty of shoplifting charges normally differs on the worth of the goods involved. If firearms, explosives or combustible devices are shoplifted, the severity of charges intensifies in several states. States laws frequently include a range of charges and can allow prosecutors option in deciding which charges to follow in a certain case. In numerous states, again the range of shoplifting charges runs from a low level “violation,” to misdemeanor, up to different degrees of felony charges. In some states, any shoplifting crime will be charged as at least a misdemeanor.

The three suspects as Bubba Hurt, Skeeter Redrum, and Summer Breeze stole 36 pair of Big Guy Brand Men socks equaling to the amount of $432.00 and 24 pair of hang nail free men’s socks equaling to the amount of $240.00. Grand totaling amount for merchandise stolen equals up to $672.00 and all three suspects were identified on the scene by the owner and workers. All suspects have prior arrest records for previous crimes.

As District Attorney is to the charges, if any, and the penalties for such charges, for all three individuals involved in this incident based on the Criminal Code for the State of Georgia. Theft as Misdemeanor or Felony in Georgia. When a theft offense involves property valued at $500 or less, the crime is punishable as a misdemeanor in Georgia. ( § 16-8-12.) Punishment for a misdemeanor includes a fine of no more than $1,000 and a sentence of imprisonment of no more than 12 months. Shoplifting property with a total combined value of more than $300 are classified as a felony and the penalty and fines at court discretion and charging each individual involved between one to ten years in jail depending on priors.

Amateur and professional criminals.

Amateur and professional criminals have three major differences between the professional property offender (thief) and an “amateur” thief according to the document’s library. First, the professional has a diminished moral capacity and multiple victims, while the amateur’s damage is much more limited. Secondly, the professional plans, has a modus operandi, and an outlet for his booty (fence). Thirdly, the professional can only be stopped by incarceration, while the amateur will stop when his situation changes, because his theft is often a crime of sociological pressure and temporary opportunity (addiction, extreme poverty, underlying psychological problems, etc.). I examined the crime scenario and the crime committed was done by amateurs the suspects damage was limited besides pushing down the security guard. Also the victims did not have a plan for the stolen merchandise they were shortly apprehended near the location where it took place.

criminal typology.

A type of criminal typology that could be applied to the suspects based on the lesson notes is criminological theory, a practicable way that can be practically applied to organize, classify, and make sense of a range of behaviors that violate the law. The criminal justice system cannot respond to crime with a “one size fits all” approach. Sanctions, management strategies, treatment approaches, and public safety policies and practices are highly dependent on differentiation of types of crimes and criminals.