Understanding Crime and Criminals
Criminology is an enormous sociological discipline and the information included in this section will not make you an expert criminologist. However, the purpose of this section is to give you basic information about the criminal and crimes you are most likely to encounter as a real estate agent. Understanding crime and criminals will help will help you be more effective in deterring criminals from targeting you, as well as making safer decisions should you ever find yourself as the target of an attempted crime.
Essentially there are two different categories of crimes. Crime against person would be assault, rape, or murder. Crime against property would be theft or vandalism.
In addition to different categories of crime, crime can also be broken out into different types based on the degree of intent. The types of crime you are likely to run into are:
- Premeditated - These are pre-planned, the intent from the start was to commit the crime. The planning may be rudimentary or sophisticated. The predator will typically be unemotional about the crime. Premeditated crimes may be either a crime against person or a crime against property
- Crimes of opportunity - These are not planned, and are most often a crime against property (theft). Not typically a theft of something on your person, typically the theft of something in the house, your bag, or your car
- Crime of compulsion - In this case the meeting was pre-planned and met a psychological need; however the crime, although fantasized about, was not the original intent. The crime was part of an obsessive-compulsive cycle, most often associated with crimes of a sexual nature.
Criminal Motives
Motive is an essential part of any crime, most crimes committed against real estate agents have one of two motives:
- Profit - The goal is to obtain money or valuables, and is typically associated with crimes against property unless it involves kidnapping for ransom. The crime is usually pre-meditated if it involves robbing the agent directly, may be a crime of opportunity if it involves theft of items in house or agent’s bag. Profit is the most common motive, and typically will not lead to violence unless victim is not compliant. A profit motive is not typically associated with a crime of compulsion, although when it is the the theft are usually keepsake type items from the home.
- Power - The goal is to feel powerful or gain control over an internal compulsion, and is typically associated with crimes against person. These crime are almost always pre-meditated or a crime of compulsion; and are always violent because the criminal seeks to gain power and control over another person. The power motive is always the motive involving sexual offenses.
Types of Criminals
Typically an agent that has been a victim of a crime has been targeted by the criminal who committed the crime. Having a basic understanding of behavioral patterns will help you to make calm reasoned decisions should you ever find yourself in the midst of a crime.
- Violent Predators -
Very Rare
Very Dangerous
Typically commit violent crimes such as rape or murder
All crimes are premeditated
Typical Motive is Power - Professionals -
Theft or kidnapping for ransom is how they earn a living or fund an addiction
Much more common than Violent Predators
Typically non-violent unless resisted
Typically commit theft, either from agent or items at property
Will likely target the property, will target an agent if profitable
Crimes are almost always premeditated - Opportunistic -
Uncommon in crimes against agents
Almost always a crime of property, usually theft of item in home
Did not come to the appointment with the intent to steal
A low risk, high reward opportunity may trigger the theft
In addition to the types of criminals mentioned above there are two additional types of individuals you may run into that are worth mentioning; and in both cases the meeting is premeditated, however the crime (if it occurs) is not. - Obsessed Individuals -
Individual has specifically targeted you as a result of an obsession
Is likely having fantasies about you, typically romantic in nature
Will typically exhibit stalking behavior
Fantasizing about you and stalking you provides a “high”, meeting you takes the “high” to the next level.
Will likely come across as more interested in you than the property - Social Outcast -
Individual has chosen you at random
Social interaction is the motivation for the meeting
Will likely be socially awkward
The meeting will likely be uncomfortable, but appropriate
Very rarely results in any type of crime
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