During the fall and winter holidays, certain crimes can increase. Below, we will discuss some of the common crimes you may notice increase during the holidays.
1. Cybercrimes
There are three main types of cybercrimes that can be committed:
- crimes against people, which involve crimes like spoofing, identity theft, cyber harassment,
- crimes against property, which involve crimes like hacking, computer vandalism, virus transmission, and
- crimes against the government, which involve cyber warfare, cyber terrorism, pirating software, and other online attacks against government entities.
During the holiday seasons, cybercrimes against people and property are quite common. Specifically, online scams that involve credit card theft, identity theft, and hacking are popular as many people are shopping online and sharing their credit card and personal information. When buying gifts or using technology, be mindful of the security of the sites you are using; you should also be sure you have strong passwords and monitor your monthly credit reports.
2. Domestic Violence
In Florida, domestic violence can include any battery, assault, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, sexual assault or battery, stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment, or any other offense that causes the injury or death of a family or household member by another family or household member. Under Florida Statute § 741.28, a family or household member includes:
- Spouses
- Ex-spouses
- Those related by blood or marriage
- Roommates (current or past)
- Parents of the same child (regardless of their current relationship or if they’ve ever been married)
The holidays can be a joyful time but they can also be tense and stressful times, and during the holidays, disputes may arise between family members, roommates, and/or other people in each other’s lives. These disputes can lead to domestic violence allegations.
3. Shoplifting & Theft
Theft crimes, especially shoplifting, larceny, and burglary, increase during the holiday season. From shoplifting items for Thanksgiving or during Black Friday to stealing packages from porches to carjacking, many theft crimes can occur during the fall and winter holidays. Reportedly, New Year’s Day is the peak time for car thefts and is known for being the leading day for such thefts.
In Florida, the penalties for theft will vary based on the type of theft crime allegedly committed as well as the value of the stolen goods or services. It is also important to note that theft-related crimes like fraud, dealing in stolen property, etc. have separate penalties.
4. Driving Under the Influence
Driving while under the influence of alcohol, chemical substances, or other controlled substances with a black or breath alcohol level of 0.08 (or above) is considered unlawful in Florida. Because of the emotions of the holiday as well as binge drinking during the holidays, the number of DUIs can increase during this season.
5. White-Collar Crimes
White-collar crimes (i.e. non-violent crimes that involve deceit or concealment of personal or business goods to gain advantages or avoid losing money) can be more common during the holiday. Common white-collar crimes include Ponzi schemes, insurance fraud, return fraud, credit card fraud, charity scams, forgery, and counterfeiting. Many people may take advantage of people’s giving nature and the holiday cheer to convince them to give to a fraudulent charity or obtain personal information for a scheme.
Charged with a Crime During the Holidays? Contact Our Firm.
The Law Office of Jody L. Fisher is prepared to help you or a loved one develop a strong, personalized legal defense strategy if you are facing criminal charges. We understand how scary and frustrating it can be to be under investigation for or charged with a crime, which is why we are committed to providing aggressive and reliable representation to our clients. We handle a wide variety of criminal defense matters, including:
- Domestic violence
- DUIs
- Driving with a suspended license
- Drug crimes
- Sex crimes
- Theft and burglaries
- Juvenile crimes
- Misdemeanors
- White-collar crimes
- Violent crimes
Get over two decades of legal experience on your side! Call (352) 503-4111 or reach out online to schedule a case consultation today.