Hazards and Threats: Man-made Threats
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Crimes
Crime is defined as an unlawful activity or an unjust, senseless or disgraceful act or condition. According to the Virginia Uniform Crime Reporting Program, there were 454.364 Group A Incidents in Virginia in 2005, or a crime committed every 1 minute, 9 seconds. Of those crimes, 333,009 offenses were Crimes Against Property, or a crime committed every 1 minute, 35 seconds.
How can crime affect my business?
In 2005 the Virginia Uniform Crime Reporting Program reported Virginia had 10,606 robberies and 23,987 shoplifting offenses against businesses. Businesses and industries have a stake in the safety of their community, employees and customers and should be aware of the dangers faced.
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What are the various types of crimes facing Virginia businesses?
- Arson: The unlawful and intentional damage or attempt to damage property by fire or incendiary device. More than 1,600 incidents of arson were reported in Virginia in 2005, totaling nearly $14 million in damage.
- Bribery: When a person offers, gives, receives or solicits anything of value to gain an illicit advantage.
- Burglary: When a person enters a building or other structure with the intent to commit a felony or theft. 36,232 burglaries were reported in Virginia in 2005.
- Counterfeiting/Forgery: A copy that is presented as the original with the intent to deceive. More than 8,600 such offenses were reported in Virginia during 2005.
- Destruction/Damage/Vandalism of Property: Property is willfully or maliciously destroyed, damaged, defaced or injured without the consent of the owner. In 2005, more than 92,219 incidents were reported in Virginia.
- Embezzlement: A person is entrusted to control money, property or anything of value and unlawfully misuses it. During 2005, more than 3,500 crimes of embezzlement occurred in Virginia.
- Extortion/Blackmail: An individual obtains money, property or some other thing of value, through the use or threat of violence, the misuse of their position, a threat of criminal prosecution or the destruction of reputation or status. 72 cases of extortion/blackmail were reported in 2005.
- Fraud: Intentional deception to cause another person injury. Deliberate trickery to gain advantage. More than 34,900 incidents of fraud occurred in Virginia in 2005.
- Larceny/Theft: Property or possessions are unlawfully taken. More than 208,000 incidents of larceny or theft took place in Virginia in 2005.
- Robbery: When a person takes anything of value by force or threat of violence from another person. 10,606 incidents of robbery were reported in Virginia in 2005.
- Shoplifting: Theft of property from a retail business. 23,987 incidents of shoplifting were reported in Virginia in 2005.
Read about responding to crimes.
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