The Bank Robbery

Yesterday, robbers …. (forced an entry into) the National Midland Bank in the High Street soon after closing time. They ….. (threatened with guns) the staff, and forced the manager to … (give them) $ 50000 in cash. The robbers ran out of the bank and … (escaped) in a stolen car, and were last seen …. (going in the direction of) the London Road. Police have warned the public that these men are very dangerous, and are unlikely to …. (surrender) without a fight. Chief Inspector Ralph Smith said: ”We’re sure that we’ll catch them soon. They won’t …. (avoid punishment for) it.

(Make off, get away with, give up, hand over, make for, break into, hold up).

TEXT B

HOW ARE CRIMES CLASSIFIED?

Crimes may be classified in various ways. One type of classification is given below. As you read the following list, however, keep in mind that human beings are the ultimate victims in all crimes:

Ø crimes against a person (murder, assault and battery,
kidnapping, rape),

Ø crimes against property (larceny, robbery, hijacking loaded trucks, embezzlement, receiving stolen property),

Ø crimes against the government and the administration of justice (treason, tax evasion, bribery, counterfeiting, perjury),

Ø crimes against public peace and order (rioting, carrying weapons, drunk and disorderly conduct, illegal speeding),

Ø crimes against buildings (burglary, arson, criminal trespass),

Ø crimes against consumers (fraudulent sale of wild cat securities), or

Ø crimes against decency (bigamy, obscenity, prostitution, sexual harassment).

Crimes are classified in terms of their seriousness as felonies or misdemeanors.

Felonies

A felony is a crime of a serious nature. It exists when the act:

1)  is labeled so by law or

2)  is punishable by death or confinement for more than one year in prison.

Murder, kidnapping, arson, rape, robbery, burglary, embezzlement, forgery, larceny (also called theft) of large sums, and perjury are examples of felonies. A person who lies when under oath commits perjury.

Misdemeanors

A misdemeanor is a crime of a less serious nature. It is usually punishable 1) by confinement in a jail for less than one year, 2) by fine, or 3) by both confinement and fine. Crimes such as drunkenness in public, driving an automobile at an illegal speed, shoplifting, and larceny of small sums are usually misdemeanors. A lesser misdemeanor is known as an infraction. Parking overtime on metered parking, failing to clear snow from sidewalks, and littering are examples of infractions. Ordinarily, no jury is allowed in cases involving infractions because the punishment is no more than a fine.

What are business related crimes?

A business, like any person, is subject to general criminal law. Some crimes, however, are found more frequently in the business than elsewhere. Business firms are frequently the victims of crimes such as robbery, burglary, shoplifting, employee pilferage, passing bad checks, vandalism, receiving stolen property, and embezzlement. Less frequently, but often with much larger sums of money involved, business persons and firms may commit crimes. Because such criminals are generally well-educated, respected members of the community, the offenses are called white-collar crimes. These criminals exploit their victims through conceal­ment and deceit.

Common examples of white-collar crimes are income tax evasion, consumer fraud, cheating with false weighing machines, conspiring to fix prices, bribery, and embezzlement. Normally no physical violence is involved in crimes of this nature. Thus, courts tend to be more soft with the criminals, punishing them with fines or short prison sentences. Here are some of the common business-related crimes:

Larceny

Larceny (commonly known as theft) is the wrongful taking of money or personal property belonging to someone else. Variations of larceny include robbery (taking personal property in immediate presence and against the victim's will, and by force or by causing fear) and burglary (entering a building with the intent to commit a crime). Other types of larceny include shoplifting, pickpocketing, and purse snatching.

Larceny may be either a felony or a misdemeanor. The classification is determined by the value of the property stolen and the circumstances surrounding the act. However, burglary is always a felony. In addition, if the burglar sells the stolen goods, he is guilty of two crimes - burglary and selling stolen property.

Receiving Stolen Property

Knowingly receiving stolen property is an offense separate from larceny. It consists of receiving, concealing, or buying property known to be stolen, with intent to deprive the rightful owner of the property. One who receives stolen property is known as a fence (скупщик краденого). Special statutes deal with the fencing of types of property that are commonly stolen, such as motor vehicles and valuable airplane, ship, or truck cargoes.

False Pretenses

One who obtains money or other property from another person by lying about a past or existing fact is guilty of false pretenses (also known as false representation). This crime differs from larceny because the victim parts with the property voluntarily. False pretenses is a type of fraud.

Forgery

Forgery is falsely making or altering any writing (for example the signature of another person). In forgery there must be intent to defraud either the person whose name is signed or someone else. The most common forgeries are found on checks when one has signed another's name without permission to do so. Forgery also includes altering a check, such as when one changes «$7» to «$70» and «Seven» to «Seventy». Forgery is usually a felony.

Bribery

Bribery is offering or giving to a government official money or anything of value which the official was not authorized to receive in order to influence performance of an official duty. Accepting the money or offer is also bribery.

Extortion

Extortion (commonly known as blackmail) is obtaining money or other property from a person by wrongful use of force, fear, or the power of office. The extortionist (blackmailer) may threaten to inflict bodily injury on the victim or a close relative of the victim. Sometimes the extortionist threatens to expose a secret crime if payment is not made. Kidnapping is a related crime.

Conspiracy

Conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to do an unlawful criminal act, or to do a lawful act by unlawful means. Usually the agreement is secret. Depending on the circumstances, the crime may be either a felony or a misdemeanor. Business executives of competing corporations sometimes conspire to fix prices or to divide markets.

Arson

Arson is the willful and illegal burning of a building. Under early common law, the courts sought primarily to protect human life. Therefore, arson was limited to the malicious burning of another’s home. This definition has since been extended to include other structures. Arson has been committed when someone intentionally starts a fire or causes an explosion that results in any burning.