Crime is a common occurrence in all countries around the world. According to the FBI’s preliminary statistics, there was a decrease in the number of violent crimes by 3.1% in 2019 in the United States, and property crimes decreased by 5.6% compared to the previous year. These figures only represent the first half of the year.
Statistics from the FBI also show some of the most common crimes reported every day. Property crimes are reported every three seconds and violent crimes every 22 seconds.
You might not hear about every crime, because some do not grab a lot of attention. Here are some of the common crimes in the United States.
Table of Contents
White-Collar Crimes
White-collar crimes are offenses that are mainly designed to get financial gain using some form of deception. These crimes are mostly committed by people in the business world. Such people use their position to gain access to large amounts of cash that does not belong to them.
Some of the examples of these crimes include:
- Embezzlement
- Tax evasion
- Insurance fraud
- Money laundering
- Insider trading
- Bribery
- Ponzi schemes
- Copyright infringement
While white-collar crimes are non-violent, they are punishable by the law because they destroy large amounts of shareholder value and affect the economy of the nation. If you are charged with a white collar crime, you will need legal help because you might face jail time.
Larceny / Theft
The FBI defines larceny/theft as the unlawful leading, carrying, taking, or riding away any property from someone’s possession without their consent. Larceny is committed with the intention of permanently depriving someone of their property.
This crime is one of the most common in the country. The FBI records more than 7 million such crimes per year. This is around 60 percent of all recorded crimes.
There are some elements required to prove larceny. There must be proof of wrongful taking of property, absence of consent, and the intent to deprive ownership. The prosecutor must prove these elements beyond reasonable doubt for one to be convicted of this crime.
Burglary
Also commonly known as breaking and entering, this is yet another common crime in the country. It involves a person illegally gaining access to someone else’s property with the intention of committing a crime in that property.
Robbery
It is no surprise that this crime makes it to this list. Robbery is very common, and almost 500,000 cases of robbery are recorded each year. Robbery is not theft because it is an act of violence that is performed directly to a person or place.
This crime involves the use of threats or force.
Motor Vehicle Theft
If you are a gaming lover, then you must have come across Grand Theft Auto. Though that is just a video game, motor vehicle theft is quite common. It accounts for 10% of crimes.
Car theft is a thriving illegal business. This is why it is important to know how to secure your car.
Aggravated Assault
This is the attempt to cause severe bodily harm to a person with disregard for human life. Unfortunately, this is a very common crime, and it accounts for 7% of the crimes committed in a year.
Aggravated assault can also involve the use of a weapon such as a knife, gun, sword, ax, or even a blunt instrument like a bat.
Homicide
Homicide is the killing of one human being by another. There are several types of homicide, and they are all subject to some form of penalty by the court of law. This crime includes murder and non-negligent manslaughter.
In 2018 alone, the FBI recorded around 16, 214 murders nationwide.
Drug Possession
Possession, peddling, and trafficking of drugs such as meth, crack, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin is incredibly common in the United States. Those convicted of this crime face some severe penalties, including jail time.
According to the Bureau of Prisons, a good percentage of inmates are serving time because of a drug-related crime.
Rape and Sexual Assault
The DOJ defines rape as a forced sexual act that includes psychological coercion as well as physical force. Attempted rapes and verbal threats of rape are also recorded as a crime. Sexual assault comes in the form of victimization, harassment, or attacks that involve unwanted sexual contact between people of the same or different gender.
Though some cases go unreported, there are several recorded rape cases by both male and female victims.
Cybercrime
Cybercrime is on the rise in the U.S. today. Many Americans are affected by this crime each year. Some of the most common cybercrimes include:
- Debit or credit card fraud
- Malware
- Unauthorized access to social media pages and emails
- Compromised password
- Data breaches
The National Computer Security Survey (NCSS) records the prevalence, nature, and impact of cybercrimes. This is because businesses lose millions of dollars to cybercrimes, and this affects the economy and the business as well.
There are several other crimes committed every day in the United States. Some are not brought to your attention not because they are not worthy of it, but because of their intensity.
These are just the most rampant ones. Remember, it is essential to stay vigilant and report all kinds of crime to the right authorities.
Protect Yourself Against the Most Common Crimes
There you have it. These are some of the most common crimes that are committed at least every day in the United States. Remember, regardless of the severity or intensity of a crime, all crimes are punishable by the law. If you are convicted of any crime, you will have to face some penalties that might include a life sentence depending on the crime.
Want to know more legal information? Check our other posts.