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NO QUESTIONS ASKED - A CONSIDERATION OF THE CRIME OF CRIMINAL RECEIVING

NCJ Number
9494
Author(s)
D CHAPPELL; M WALSH
Date Published
1972
Length
25 pages
Annotation
REVIEW OF LEGAL CONTROLS OF CRIMINAL RECEIVING IN ENGLAND FROM 1691, WITH AN ANALYSIS OF THE DYNAMICS OF CRIMINAL RECEIVING, BASED ON CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES OF JONATHAN WILD.
Abstract
CONTROL OF CRIMINAL RECEIVING OF STOLEN GOODS HAS BEEN LARGELY INEFFECTIVE IN ENGLAND AND AMERICA, FROM THE TIME OF THE FAMOUS 18TH CENTURY RECEIVER, JONATHAN WILD, TO THE MODERN FENCE. AN ANALYSIS OF WILD'S ENORMOUSLY SUCCESSFUL CRIMINAL RECEIVING OPERATION REVEALS THREE KEY INTERRELATED ELEMENTS WHICH ARE STILL CHARACTERISTIC OF FENCING. THE FIRST OF THESE IS A SUBTLETY AND SOPHISTICATION OF ORGANIZATION IN WHICH THE CRIME IS MANAGED IN STRICT BUSINESS MANNER. THE SECOND, MOST IMPORTANT FOR THE RECEIVER'S PERSONAL SECURITY, IS THE ABILITY TO MANIPULATE SOCIETY'S POWER STRUCTURE AND TO CONTROL THE INFORMATION NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL BOTH WITHIN THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND THE UNDERWORLD. THE THIRD ELEMENT IS THE MARKETING EXPERTISE WHICH CAN PROPERLY EVALUATE AND DISPOSE OF THE STOLEN PROPERTY BEING RECEIVED.