Those who are strapped for cash to meet obligations sometimes revert to criminal activity as a means to restore lost income.
Here are the most common crimes that increase when people are strapped for cash.
Theft committed against family members is one of the most common entries into the world of illegally acquiring cash. Stories of children, neighbors and even spouses stealing from purses and wallets are so common that almost everyone can recount an instance or two.
Modern vehicles are tougher to steal than they were a few years ago. Modern car thieves now commit car jacking heists instead. With most vehicles needing a key to make the engine work, it is easier to "jack" vehicles than it is to hot wire them.
Personal robbery has been such a common crime in urban areas that it is often depicted in television crime dramas. The suburbs and rural areas are now fertile grounds for cash-strapped people looking to make a quick score.
Standard commercial and residential robberies include smash-and-grab and home invasion types of robberies along with your standard convenience store type of robbery with a criminal, a gun and the demand of cash. The criminals have graduated to demanding cash and/or drugs.
Though it has such a high risk of those perpetrating being caught, shoplifting is viewed by criminals as a victimless crime because it is most often perpetrated on big retail businesses. Shoplifters rationalize the crime by saying things such as, "That's why they have insurance," and "They make too much money anyway."
An easy crime for some employees and volunteers is embezzlement. Those with access to company funds, whether it be petty cash or bank accounts, see opportunity if their morals and ethics are low and their desire for cash is high.
The old saying about locks keeping honest people honest can be adapted to apply to many people who are strapped for cash and looking to make an easy buck. People with no prior history of criminal activity often report when caught stealing that they needed the money and the opportunity was there.
Family Theft
Theft committed against family members is one of the most common entries into the world of illegally acquiring cash. Stories of children, neighbors and even spouses stealing from purses and wallets are so common that almost everyone can recount an instance or two.
Parents and grandparents in some families are reluctant to report children and grandchildren who forge checks and steal jewelry and antiques to pawn, making it top the list for how those willing to revert to crime get money when strapped for cash.
Car Thefts
Modern vehicles are tougher to steal than they were a few years ago. Modern car thieves now commit car jacking heists instead. With most vehicles needing a key to make the engine work, it is easier to "jack" vehicles than it is to hot wire them.
The stolen car business is alive and well, and it is going strong in almost every region of the United States.
Mugging
Personal robbery has been such a common crime in urban areas that it is often depicted in television crime dramas. The suburbs and rural areas are now fertile grounds for cash-strapped people looking to make a quick score.
Mugging is robbing someone in public that often involves personal attack. It includes purse snatching and grab-and-run thefts of personal electronics as well as the traditional demand for money, jewelry and other valuables under threat of violence.
Robbery
Standard commercial and residential robberies include smash-and-grab and home invasion types of robberies along with your standard convenience store type of robbery with a criminal, a gun and the demand of cash. The criminals have graduated to demanding cash and/or drugs.
Some of the criminals are users desiring the drugs. Others realize that drugs can be quickly converted to cash. A further incentive that has this crime on the rise is the number of homes with residents who are taking prescription narcotics and other popular drugs.
Shoplifting
Though it has such a high risk of those perpetrating being caught, shoplifting is viewed by criminals as a victimless crime because it is most often perpetrated on big retail businesses. Shoplifters rationalize the crime by saying things such as, "That's why they have insurance," and "They make too much money anyway."
Personal electronics, cigarettes, and cosmetics are extremely popular shoplifting items. Meat, especially expensive steaks, are the target in grocery stores. Shoplifters steal them and then sell them. If you are accused of shoplifting, it's important to talk to an attorney right away, say the experts at Clark & Clark LLC.
Embezzling
An easy crime for some employees and volunteers is embezzlement. Those with access to company funds, whether it be petty cash or bank accounts, see opportunity if their morals and ethics are low and their desire for cash is high.
Many companies have instituted higher levels of security when it comes to accessing funds and redundant accounting. However, there are still plenty of employees out there who have access to company credit cards, fuel credit cards, checking accounts and liberal petty cash boxes without any redundant monitoring of how the money is being spent.
Non-profit volunteer groups are often fertile grounds for this type of thief because volunteerism often implies higher ethics and morals of the volunteers.
The old saying about locks keeping honest people honest can be adapted to apply to many people who are strapped for cash and looking to make an easy buck. People with no prior history of criminal activity often report when caught stealing that they needed the money and the opportunity was there.
Though society should not have to lock its doors, it does every single night. Taking this mindset to heighten security to dissuade those strapped for cash from turning into thieves, whether they are family, friends, neighbors, volunteers or employees, may be good too.
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