Crimes against property are consideredin chapter 21 of the Criminal Code. They are understood as socially dangerous acts that violate the rights of property owners to property and cause material damage or create the threat of harm. Due to the fact that they usually bring property benefits, the number of such crimes is always higher than that of any other category.
Crimes against property can be conditionally divided into types:
1. Abduction of another's property. Crimes related to this group are committed with a mercenary purpose and legally enshrined in Articles 158-162, 164 of the Criminal Code. The most common thefts are:
- Theft - the proportion of crimes with suchcomposition is the highest. It is understood as the secret abduction of property, that is, the seizure of the crime subject takes place without the consent and knowledge of the person to whom it belongs. As a rule, it occurs in the absence of the owner or when he is sleeping or in a state of intoxication. An example could be a theft committed from an apartment, a warehouse, an office, a production room, a store, etc. However, embezzlement can be committed in the presence of a person, for example, from a bag of a person who is in crowded public transport. Theft also recognizes the seizure of property from a young or mentally impaired person who does not realize the unlawfulness of the actions;
- robbery is another crime againstproperty. It is performed openly. The perpetrator completely ignores the opinion of others, including the victim, demonstrating his willingness to repulse possible resistance. Robbery is mandatory in the presence of strangers. The presence of accomplices in the crime scene, as well as those close to the perpetrator, does not constitute a robbery, since he does not expect any opposition from them. This crime can be carried out with the use of violence. However, it should not be dangerous for the life of the victim and his health;
- robbery is a more dangerous form of theft in comparisonwith others. In this case, the encroachment is not only on the property of the person, but also on his health and life. Most often, crimes are committed openly against a person whose property they are planning to acquire. Such acts are dangerous for life and health. At the same time, crimes against property, such as robbery, can be carried out secretly, for example, when attacking from behind.
2. Causing damage, not related to theft. A similar group is recorded in articles 163, 165 and 166. It includes:
- Extortion - is expressed in the demand for transferproperty to the criminal with the threat of applying to the owner or close to him people of violence, damage (destruction) of his property, dissemination of disgracing information;
- hijacking is an unlawful seizure of transport, withwhich is not intended to steal. This crime can be committed for various reasons: in order to ride, get to a certain place, etc.
3. Careless (Art. 168), intentional (art.167) damage to property. Responsibility for these unlawful acts under Part 1 occurs only in the event of causing significant damage, the concept of which is not disclosed in the law. Both of these crimes are not related to material gain.
Crimes against property most oftenhave a material composition. This means that criminal liability can also occur for an unfinished unlawful act. In this case, the qualification is made with reference to Article 14 of the General Part of the Criminal Code. However, it should be remembered that responsibility for such stages of the crime as preparation and attempt occurs only for crimes that are grave and especially grave.
