A woman missing in the tropics, a child abducted from his bedroom.
Your heart races when you watch true crime stories but do you know what you actually need to be afraid of? What are the most common crimes in the U.S.?
Keep reading to find out.
Property Crimes
Property crimes are far and away the most common types of crimes committed by Americans. Ultimately, most of the harm is directed toward objects rather than people. If you fall prey, your financial or personal life may be wrecked but you won’t be physically harmed.
Property crimes include:
- Arson
- Theft
- Burglary
These crimes can be misdemeanors or felonies depending on the severity.
Drug Violations
The U.S. has very strict drug laws. If you break them, you could be in a lot of trouble. Drug violations include transgressions like manufacturing narcotics, possession of narcotics, etc. You can get in trouble for using or distributing drugs.
Illicit drugs range from everything to cannabis to cocaine.
Driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while intoxicated (DWI) charges can be included in this group as well. A good DWI lawyer can help escape jail time as long as you don’t have a criminal record.
Public intoxication is also a common crime.
Violent Crimes
Unfortunately, violent crimes aren’t commonplace. The good news is that they’re becoming rarer. The country’s violent crime rate has been steadily decreasing for years.
These are the crimes that keep you at night, that you make you look about when you’re walking around at night. Examples of violent crimes include:
- Rape: The legal definition is to forcibly penetrate someone’s genitals against their will. Men and women can both be victims.
- Murder: When you take someone’s life, you’re guilty of murder. It’s among the most heinous crimes that you can commit.
- Robbery: Robbery differs from theft in its effect on the victim. Robbery means that the victim suffered physical harm in addition to property damage.
Violent crimes are the most terrifying because they can destroy your life.
Financial Crimes
Financial crimes are rampant. Someone might steal your social security number and rack up debt in your name. Or a business owner might lie about their company’s financial prospects to lure investors.
Fraud is a very broad term. These crimes are often hard to prosecute because the victim doesn’t know what’s happening. By the time they figure out that they’ve been duped, the fraudster is already gone.
You can try to shield yourself from identity theft and like crimes by guarding your personal information, constantly checking your financial accounts, and avoiding unreputable websites online. Businesses should hire an accountant.
Avoiding the Most Common Crimes
The best way to avoid becoming a victim of the most common crimes is to be aware of your surroundings. Dedicated plots of villainy are rare. Most crimes are committed because the perpetrator saw an opportunity.
Protect yourself. Understand what’s going on in your surroundings. We can help keep you up to date.
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