So far in 2020, reported property crimes in the city of Denver have numbered 11,557, according to The Denver Post. This averages to 74.6 per day and 2,266 per month. The actual number of reported property crimes for the most recent month was higher than average at 2,372 and also higher than the number of reports over the same period last year.
The article in the Post does not detail the specific offenses reported, and some people may not even be aware of what constitutes a property crime. It is a broad category that includes many different offenses. Here is a general overview of common offenses that classify as property crimes.
- Arson
Arson is a willful and malicious attempt to set fire to someone else’s property. It does not have to be a successful attempt for a person to face charges for it. If the purpose of setting the fire was to commit fraud, the offense falls under a different category and does not qualify as arson.
- Vandalism
Willful and malicious destruction of property that does not involve fire falls into the category of vandalism. Vandalism can take many forms, such as throwing projectiles to break windows or spray-painting graffiti on walls.
- Larceny
Larceny involves unlawfully taking property from someone else not by fraud, deceit or force but by stealth. Shoplifting, pickpocketing and stealing personal property from a motor vehicle all qualify as larceny. However, the theft of a car itself has its own category.
- Trespassing
Trespassing involves unlawful entry into a building or structure belonging to someone else. The entry can be forcible, but this is not a requirement for a charge of trespassing. The building can be a residence, an outbuilding (e.g., a shed or garage), a temporary residence such as a hotel room or a place of business. If the purpose of the unlawful entry was to commit a theft or similar crime, it can qualify as burglary.
