Before last year came to a close, one Baltimore Public Works employee wanted to end the year on a high note. The employee was accused of stealing a truck owned by the city with the intention of stealing a bank ATM machine. On December 29, Baltimore County Police received a call around 3:30 a.m. about a burglary at the BB&T bank in Owings Mills.

When the officers arrived on the scene, the ATM machine was chained with a white truck backed up against it. The suspect was a 36-year old male who began to exit the scene when the officers arrived. After a brief foot chase, the suspect was arrested and taken into police custody. He has been charged with “second-degree burglary and theft, along with misdemeanor counts of malicious destruction of property.”

Property crimes are more common than so-called violent crimes

While many citizens are concerned about violent crimes such as assault and homicide, one particular type of crime that is often overlooked is property crimes – where a person’s property is taken or destroyed with or without the threat of physical violence.

In fact, property crimes are the types of crimes that happen frequently. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program revealed that there were an estimated 6,925,677 property crime offenses that took place in 2019. The estimated loss that resulted from these property offenses was $15.8 billion.

In Maryland in 2019, there were 118,047 property crimes, compared to 543 murders. Based on the numbers, the most common crime against a person, “aggravated” assault, led to just under 16,000 charges – a difference of about 638%, give or take.

What are some examples of property crimes?

Just because property crimes do not often lead to bodily injury, that does not make those charges any less severe. It depends on the charge. Some examples of property crimes include:

• Shoplifting. One of the most common and recognized types of property crimes, shoplifting is an offense where a person hides or steals merchandise from a store. A person can be found guilty of shoplifting if the person attempts to hide a particular type of merchandise in their bag or on their person and exits the store.
• Motor vehicle theft. Similar to shoplifting, motor vehicle theft is another type of property crime that is quite common. The FBI noted that there was an estimated $7.4 billion loss from motor vehicle theft that occurred in 2020. Although motor vehicles are the types of vehicles that are commonly stolen, any type of stolen vehicle can be classified under motor vehicle theft, from buses to motorcycles to scooters
• Arson. One of the more serious types of property crimes involves arson. Arson is the criminal act of intentionally setting a property on fire. While arson is typically a property crime committed in buildings, the offense can also occur in other forms of property such as motor vehicles. Insurance fraud is one of the most common motives for perpetrators to commit the act of arson.
• Vandalism. Vandalism, or “malicious destruction of property,” is a type of property crime where an individual intentionally destroys property without permission. Vandalism can take many forms, from painting graffiti on a piece of property to throwing eggs at a residence. It can also include breaking windows or “keying” a car.

What makes property crimes so unique?

Some people choose to overlook the severity of property crimes due to the fact that some property crimes occur without the threat of violence. For example, the act of shoplifting involves little violence; a person can steal a piece of merchandise without physically assaulting another individual.

However, what makes property crimes unique is the fact that these types of crimes can be classified as low-level offenses or felonies. While there are misdemeanor property crimes such as shoplifting and vandalism, burglary and robbery are also property crimes, and they are both felonies.  Use of physical force, threat of violence, or the presence of a weapon can automatically lead to a felony charge.

Penalties for property crimes

Offenders are still at risk of facing substantial penalties if they are found guilty of committing these offenses. If convicted, you face hundreds – or thousands – of dollars in fines and court fees, plus the cost of restitution. You can be sentenced to community service, but you may also be sent to jail or prison. Even an offense like shoplifting can lead to the loss of a professional license or security clearance; a felony like arson can cost you your right to bear arms, your right to vote, and educational or housing opportunities.

Should I hire a criminal defense lawyer for a property crime charge?

While you are never legally required to hire a lawyer, you should consider doing so even if the charge you face is “only” a misdemeanor. Not only do you stand to lose much, but some property crimes are ineligible for expungement, which means they will be on your record forever.

The best way to avoid this fallout is to have your charges dismissed entirely, and that is where we can help. Our firm has decades of experience representing professionals, juveniles, and other individuals who are facing serious charges. We may employ defenses such as arguing a lack of intent, or having evidence suppressed. We have experience negotiating plea bargains, too, and getting charges reduced. For first-time offenders, we may argue that alternative sentencing should apply.

Joseph Carey, of Carey Law Office in Bowie and Crofton, is here to safeguard your rights and provide a solid defense on your behalf. For more than 37 years, we have proudly served the legal needs of clients in Anne Arundel County, Calvert County, Prince George’s County, and the surrounding areas. You may call 301-464-2500 or fill out our contact form to learn more about our services today.