Larceny-theft.Definition Larceny-theft is defined as the unlawful Contrary to or unauthorized by law; illegal. When applied to promises, agreements, or contracts, the term denotes that such agreements have no legal effect. The law disapproves of such conduct because it is immoral or contrary to public policy. taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession or constructive possession constructive possession n. when a person does not have actual possession, but has the power to control an asset, he/she has constructive possession. Having the key to a safe deposit box, for example, gives one constructive possession. (See: constructive) of another. It includes crimes such as shoplifting Ask a Lawyer Question Country: United States of America State: Florida caught shoplifting at sears 12/05/05, first time, 20yearsold, have no criminal record. , pocket-picking, purse-snatching, thefts from motor vehicles, thefts of motor vehicle parts and accessories, bicycle bicycle, light, two-wheeled vehicle driven by pedals. The name velocipede is often given to early forms of the bicycle and to its predecessor, the dandy horse, a two-wheeled vehicle moved by the thrust of the rider's feet upon the ground. thefts, etc., in which no use of force, violence, or fraud occurs. In the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR (Under Color Removal) A method for reducing the amount of printing ink used. It substitutes black for gray color (equal amounts of cyan, magenta and yellow). Thus black ink is used instead of the three CMY inks. See GCR and dot gain. ) Program, this crime category does not include embezzlement embezzlement, wrongful use, for one's own selfish ends, of the property of another when that property has been legally entrusted to one. Such an act was not larceny at common law because larceny was committed only when property was acquired by a "felonious taking," i. , confidence games, forgery forgery, in art forgery, in art, the false claim to authenticity for a work of art. The Nature of Forgery Because the provenance of works of art is seldom clear and because their origin is often judged by means of subtle factors, art , and worthless checks. Motor vehicle theft Motor vehicle theft or grand theft auto is a criminal act of theft generally understood to refer to the stealing of automobiles, buses, motorcycles, snowmobiles, trucks, trailers or any other motorized vehicle legally allowed on public roads and highways, including attempted is also excluded from this category in as much as it is a separate offense.
Trend
Rate per 100,000
Year Number of offenses inhabitants
2002 7,057,379 2,450.7
2003 7,021,588 2,414.5
Percent change -0.5 -1.5
National Volume, Trends, and Rates In 2003, there were more than 7 million estimated larceny-thefts in the Nation, which cost victims an estimated $4.9 billion in losses. (Based on Table 1, which includes national estimates, and Table 23, which includes data from those agencies supplying at least 6 months of complete offense reports.) Larceny-theft offenses in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. accounted for 67.3 percent of the estimated total property crimes, i.e., burglary burglary, at common law, the breaking and entering of a dwelling house of another at night with the intent to commit a felony, whether the intent is carried out or not. , larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft. When 2003 data were compared to 2002 data, the estimated number of larceny-thefts in the Nation decreased 0.5 percent. Five- and 10-year trends showed that the estimated volume of larceny-thefts in the Nation increased 0.9 percent from the 1999 estimate but decreased 10.9 percent when compared to the 1994 estimate. (See Table 1, national estimates.) The rate of larceny-thefts in the Nation for 2003 was an estimated 2,414.5 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants
The game is based loosely on the concepts from SameGame. , a 1.5-percent decrease from the 2002 rate. The 2003 estimated rate reflected a 5.3-percent decrease from the 1999 rate and a 20.2-percent drop from the 1994 rate. (See Table 1, national estimates.) Regional Offense Trends and Rates The UCR Program divides the Nation into four regions: the Northeast “Northeastern” redirects here. For the Boston college, see Northeastern University, Boston. Northeast or north east is the ordinal direction halfway between north and east. It is the opposite of southwest. See boxing the compass. , the Midwest Midwest or Middle West, region of the United States centered on the western Great Lakes and the upper-middle Mississippi valley. It is a somewhat imprecise term that has been applied to the northern section of the land between the Appalachians , the South, and the West. (See Appendix appendix, small, worm-shaped blind tube, about 3 in. (7.6 cm) long and 1-4 in. to 1 in. (.64–2.54 cm) thick, projecting from the cecum (part of the large intestine) on the right side of the lower abdominal cavity. III for a map delineating the regions.) By region, larceny-theft data for 2003 reflected the following: The Northeast The Northeast accounted for 18.7 percent of the Nation's total estimated population and an estimated 13.0 percent of the country's larceny-theft offenses. The estimated volume of larceny-theft offenses occurring in the region during 2003 declined 2.1 percent from the 2002 estimate. Among the regions, the Northeast had the lowest rate of larceny-theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants, estimated at 1,673.0; this was a decline of 2.5 percent from the 2002 rate. (See Tables 3 and 4, regional estimates.) The Midwest With 22.5 percent of the Nation's population, the Midwestern Mid·west or Middle West A region of the north-central United States around the Great Lakes and the upper Mississippi Valley. It is generally considered to include Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and states accounted for 21.9 percent of the Nation's larceny-thefts in 2003. Those data reflected a 2.3-percent decrease in the volume of larceny-theft offenses when compared to the 2002 estimate. The Midwest had an estimated 2,351.2 larceny-theft offenses per 100,000 in population, which was a 2.8-percent decline from 2002 data. (See Tables 3 and 4, regional estimates.) The South The Nation's most populous pop·u·lous adj. Containing many people or inhabitants; having a large population. [Middle English, from Latin popul region, the South, with 35.9 percent of the U.S. population, had 41.3 percent of the Nation's larceny-theft offenses in 2003. From 2002 to 2003, the number of larceny-theft offenses increased slightly, 0.3 percent, but the rate--2,771.0 per 100,000 population--decreased 1.0 percent. (See Tables 3 and 4, regional estimates.) The West Nearly twenty-three percent (22.9) of the Nation's population resided in the West in 2003, and this region accounted for an estimated 23.9 percent of the total larceny-thefts during that year. Despite a 0.8-percent increase in the estimated number of larceny-thefts during 2003, the West recorded a 0.7-percent decline in the rate when compared to 2002 estimate -2,522.9 larcenies per 100,000 inhabitants. (See Tables 3 and 4, regional estimates.) Community Types The UCR Program compiles data for three community types: Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), cities outside metropolitan areas, and nonmetropolitan counties. (Additional information regarding community types is located in Appendix III.) Nearly 83 percent (82.8) of the Nation's estimated population resided an MSAs in 2003, 6.8 percent lived in cities outside MSAs, and 10.4 percent of the population lived in nonmetropolitan counties. (Based on Table 2, community type estimates.) The Nation's MSAs had a rate estimated at 2,534.3 larceny-theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants during 2003. Cities outside MSAs had a rate of 3,132.2, and nonmetropolitan counties had a rate of 993.6 larceny-thefts per 100,000 inhabitants. (See Table 2, community type estimates.) Population Groups: Trends and Rates The UCR Program aggregates crime statistics into population groups. A list of these groups is located in Appendix III. Collectively, the Nation's cities had a 0.6-percent decrease in the number of larceny-thefts in 2003 when compared to the 2002 figure. The largest decline, 1.4 percent, occurred in the Nation's largest cities, those with 250,000 or more inhabitants. The Nation's smallest cities, those with under 10,000 inhabitants, had a 1.1-percent increase in larceny-thefts when comparing 2003 to 2002 data. Metropolitan counties showed a 0.5-percent decline in larcenies between 2003 and 2002. Over the same time frame, nonmetropolitan counties experienced a 1.2-percent increase in the number of larceny-thefts. (See Table 12.) An examination of the rate of larceny-theft by population group indicated that the Nation's cities, collectively, had 2,951.7 larcenies per 100,000 inhabitants in 2003. Of the city population groups, those cities with 100,000 to 249,999 inhabitants had the highest rate, 3,297.7 reported larceny-thefts per 100,000 inhabitants. Cities with populations of 10,000 to 24,999 inhabitants had the lowest rate, 2,583.4 larceny-thefts per 100,000 population. Metropolitan counties had a rate of 1,689.6 larceny-thefts per 100,000 population, and nonmetropolitan counties had a rate of 1,084.1 per 100,000 inhabitants. (See Table 16.) Offense Analysis Distribution A breakdown breakdown /break·down/ (brak´doun) 1. the act or process of ceasing to function. 2. an often sudden collapse in health. 3. loss of self-control. of larceny-theft offenses showed that thefts from motor vehicles accounted for 26.4 percent of reported larceny-thefts in the Nation during 2003. Shoplifting accounted for 14.4 percent of larceny-thefts, and thefts from buildings made up 12.4 percent of the larceny-theft total. The theft of motor vehicle parts and accessories comprised 11.1 percent of larcenies, and the theft of bicycles accounted for 3.9 percent of larceny-thefts. Thefts from coin-operated Adj. 1. coin-operated - of devices that do not operate without the prior insertion of one or more coins; "a coin-operated telephone" coin-operated adj [machine] → que funciona con monedas machines, purse-snatchings, pocket-pickings, and other miscellaneous types of larceny-thefts comprised the remainder. (See Table 23.) Loss by Dollar Value Larceny-theft offenses cost an estimated $4.9 billion in lost property in 2003. (Based on Table 1, which includes national estimates, and Table 23, which includes data from those agencies supplying at least 6 months of complete offense reports.) The average value of property stolen per offense, $698, remained virtually unchanged from the 2002 average value of $699. (See Table 23.) In 2003, the larceny-theft category with the highest average loss, $1,030, was thefts from buildings. For thefts from motor vehicles, the average value loss was $680, and for thefts of motor vehicle parts and accessories, the average loss was $442. Purse-snatchings had an average value loss of $367; pocket-pickings, $294; and thefts of bicycles, $247. Thefts from coin-operated machines had an average loss of $262. The larceny-theft category with the lowest average dollar value was shoplifting at $163. (See Table 23.) An examination of larceny-theft offenses by monetary value indicated that incidents in which the stolen property was valued at over $200 accounted for 39.3 percent of all reported larceny-thefts. Property valued at under $50 made up 38.1 percent of the reported larceny-theft offenses, and property valued from $50 to $200 made up 22.6 percent of the larcenies. (See Table 23.) Clearances In the UCR Program, law enforcement agencies A law enforcement agency (LEA) is a term used to describe any agency which enforces the law. This may be a local or state police, federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). may clear an offense either by the arrest of an individual or by exceptional means, i.e., when elements beyond the control of law enforcement preclude pre·clude tr.v. pre·clud·ed, pre·clud·ing, pre·cludes 1. To make impossible, as by action taken in advance; prevent. See Synonyms at prevent. 2. the agency from placing formal charges against the offender offender n. an accused defendant in a criminal case or one convicted of a crime. (See: defendant, accused) . (Section III of this publication provides additional information regarding clearances.) Nationwide, law enforcement cleared 18.0 percent of all reported larceny-theft offenses in 2003. The Nation's cities, collectively, cleared 18.1 percent of larceny-theft offenses. Cities with 10,000 to 24,999 in population cleared the highest percentage of larceny-thefts, 22.2 percent. The Nation's largest cities, those with populations of 250,000 or more inhabitants, had the lowest percentage of larcenies cleared at 14.2 percent. Law enforcement agencies in metropolitan counties cleared 17.4 percent of larcenies, and agencies in nonmetropolitan counties cleared 17.5 percent of larceny-theft offenses. (See Table 25.) An examination of larceny-theft clearances by region showed that law enforcement agencies in the Northeast cleared 21.9 percent of the larceny-theft offenses brought to their attention. Law enforcement agencies in the Midwest cleared 18.1 percent of larceny-theft offenses, those in the South cleared 18.0 percent, and agencies in the West cleared 16.1 percent of reported larceny-thefts. (See Table 26.) In the UCR Program, a juvenile juvenile /ju·ve·nile/ (ju´vin-il) 1. pertaining to youth or childhood. 2. a youth or child; a young animal. 3. a cell or organism intermediate between immature and mature forms. clearance CLEARANCE, com. law. The name of a certificate given by the collector of a port, in which is stated the master or commander (naming him) of a ship or vessel named and described, bound for a port, named, and having on board goods described, has entered and cleared his ship or vessel is counted when an offender under the age of 18 is cited to appear in juvenile court juvenile court Special court handling problems of delinquent, neglected, or abused children. Two types of cases are processed by a juvenile court: civil matters, often concerning care of an abandoned or impoverished child, and criminal matters, arising from antisocial or before other juvenile authorities even though a physical arrest may not have occurred. Clearances involving both adult and juvenile offenders are considered adult clearances and are not counted in the juvenile figures. For 2003, slightly more than 20 percent (20.2) of the larceny-theft clearances in the Nation involved only juveniles. Twenty-one twenty-one: see blackjack. percent of larceny-theft clearances in the Nation's cities, collectively, involved only juveniles. Of all city population groups, cities with populations in the 50,000 to 99,999 range had 23.6 percent of the larceny-theft clearances involve only juveniles--the highest percentage. Law enforcement personnel in cities with populations of 250,000 or more inhabitants cleared 17.0 percent of the larceny-thefts that involved only juveniles--the lowest percentage. Law enforcement agencies in the Nation's metropolitan counties reported that 16.8 percent of larceny-theft clearances involved only juveniles; those in nonmetropolitan counties reported that 15.0 percent of larceny-theft clearances involved only juveniles. (See Table 28.) Arrests Table 29 provides the estimated number of arrests for the Nation for the 29 offenses for which the UCR Program collects arrest data. The remaining tables in Section IV of this publication contain actual arrest data for those agencies that furnished fur·nish tr.v. fur·nished, fur·nish·ing, fur·nish·es 1. To equip with what is needed, especially to provide furniture for. 2. 12 months of arrest data to the national UCR Program. Law enforcement agencies in the Nation made an estimated 1,145,074 arrests for larceny-theft in 2003, the highest arrest total of all reported property offenses. Arrests for larceny-theft comprised an estimated 71.3 percent of arrests for all property crime offenses. (Based on Table 29.) Nationally in 2003, law enforcement reported a rate of 400.4 larceny-theft arrests per 100,000 inhabitants. A review of larceny-theft arrests by region showed that in 2003 the South had the highest rate, 449.6 arrests per 100,000 inhabitants. Law enforcement agencies in the Midwest made 424.7 arrests for larceny-theft per 100,000 inhabitants; the West, 377.1; and the Northeast, 323.8. (See Table 30). The Nation's cities collectively had a rate of 489.9 larceny-theft arrests per 100,000 inhabitants. By city population groups, those cities with 50,000 to 99,999 inhabitants had the highest arrest rate for larceny-theft, 546.5 per 100,000 inhabitants; cities with 250,000 or more inhabitants had the lowest arrest rate, 452.0. The Nation's metropolitan counties had a rate of 231.3 larceny-theft arrests; nonmetropolitan counties had a rate of 150.6 larceny-theft arrests per 100,000 in population. (See Table 31.) When compared to 2002 figures, the number of larceny-theft arrests during 2003 increased 0.5 percent nationally. The number of arrests of juveniles for larceny-theft in 2003 decreased 3.2 percent from the 2002 figure, and the number of arrests of adults for larceny-theft increased 2.0 percent. (See Table 36.) The number of arrests of males for larceny-theft in 2003 remained virtually unchanged (+0.1 percent) from the 2002 data; the number of arrests of females for larceny-theft increased 1.1 percent. (See Table 37.) Of those persons arrested for larceny-theft in the Nation in 2003, 28.4 percent were juveniles. Slightly more than 30 percent (30.2) of all females arrested for larceny-theft in 2003 were under the age of 18. (Based on Tables 38 and 40.) A breakdown of arrest data by gender showed that 62.9 percent of larceny-theft arrestees were male. (See Table 42.) By race, 68.5 percent of larceny-theft arrestees were white, 28.8 percent were black, and the remainder were of other races. Of the juveniles arrested for larceny-theft in 2003, 69.8 percent were white, 26.7 percent were black, and 3.5 percent were of other races. (See Table 43.)
Table 2.26
Larceny-theft by Month
Percent Distribution, 1999-2003
Month 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
January 7.8 7.6 7.7 8.1 7.9
February 7.2 7.3 6.8 7.0 6.8
March 8.0 8.2 7.8 7.8 8.1
April 8.0 7.9 8.0 8.1 8.3
May 8.4 8.6 8.6 8.6 8.7
June 8.7 8.8 8.6 8.5 8.6
July 9.1 9.2 9.1 9.2 9.1
August 9.2 9.2 9.1 9.1 9.0
September 8.5 8.5 8.4 8.6 8.6
October 8.7 8.8 9.1 8.9 8.8
November 8.1 8.0 8.3 8.0 8.0
December 8.3 7.9 8.4 8.1 8.2
Table 2.27
Larceny-theft
Percent Distribution by Region, 2003
United
States
Type total Northeast Midwest South West
Total (1) 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Pocket-picking 0.5 0.9 0.4 0.4 0.4
Purse-snatching 0.6 1.2 0.5 0.5 0.6
Shoplifting 14.4 15.4 13.6 14.0 15.1
From motor vehicles
(except accessories) 26.4 21.1 23.2 25.0 33.0
Motor vehicle
accessories 11.1 9.1 11.0 11.7 11.3
Bicycles 3.9 5.2 4.3 3.1 4.1
From buildings 12.4 16.1 14.2 10.6 12.0
From coin-operated
machines 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.9 0.7
All others 30.0 30.4 32.1 33.8 23.0
(1) Because of rounding, the percentages may not add to 100.0.
Figure 2.12
Larceny-theft
Percent Change from 1999
Rate per 100,000
Volume inhabitants
1999 0 0
2000 0.2 -2.9
2001 2.0 -2.5
2002 1.5 -3.9
2003 0.9 -5.3
Note: Table made from line graph.
Figure 2.13
Larceny-theft Categories
Percent Change from 1999
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Pocket-picking 0 -2.0 -8.3 -12.9 -14.5
Purse-snatching 0 -1.1 2.3 5.3 10.7
Shoplifting 0 -5.0 -2.4 -0.3 1.0
From motor vehicles (except
accessories) 0 -0.5 4.7 7.7 7.2
Motor vehicle accessories 0 -3.5 4.2 9.1 12.2
Bicycles 0 -8.9 -13.8 -16.8 -20.1
From buildings 0 0.2 1.4 -4.1 -7.4
From coin-operated machines 0 -2.6 9.7 11.6 14.1
Note: Table made from line graph.
Figure 2.14
Larceny-theft
Percent Distribution, (1) 2003
Pocket-picking 0.5%
Purse-snatching 0.6%
From coin-operated machines 0.7%
Bicycles 3.9%
Motor vehicle accessories 11.1%
From buildings 12.4%
Shoplifting 14.4%
From motor vehicles
(except accessories) 26.4%
All others 30.0%
(1) Due to rounding, the percentages may not add to 100.0.
Note: Table made from pie chart.
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