If you were forced to turn to a life of crime, do you have a choice as to what y

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  1. Wayne Brown profile image80
    Wayne Brownposted 13 years ago

    If you were forced to turn to a life of crime, do you have a choice as to what your specialty...

    would be?

  2. Wesman Todd Shaw profile image81
    Wesman Todd Shawposted 13 years ago

    There can be no "if's," "ands," or "buts," about this.  I'm for bank robbery, all day, every day.

  3. Pente profile image78
    Penteposted 13 years ago

    Having done time, I can tell you that the white collar criminals do the best. Sentences are usually light and a lot of money can be made. I have met a guy who made hundreds of thousands of dollars on real estate scams doing a 13 month sentence. Many property criminals get probation on their first offense. Violent crimes are the worst way to go. A robbery will get you a minimum of 100 months (no parole) in this state and many felons get 200 months (no parole) instead. The police will spend much more energy to solve a violent crime also. The state of choice for being criminal is important too. Some states are very lenient or have much more humane prisons.

    All this being said, even though unemployment is very high, there are still many opportunities to make decent money.

    If all else fail, you can actually make decent money panhandling if you approach it as a business. Try different locations, signs, and appearances. A good panhandler can make over $10 per hour and nobody ever pays taxes on that.

    The best prison is at best a guilded cage. Your life is under the control of the guards, the food is very unhealthy and will shorten your lifespan. I have seen several inmates die due to the lack of proper medical care. If you ever need antibiotics, you will probably need someone to smuggle them in for you.

    I have met Vietnam and Iraqi veterans and most would rather do two or three years on the front line as a grunt than a year in the best prison.

  4. shynsly profile image61
    shynslyposted 13 years ago

    I second "bank robbery"... my conscience would never allow me to actually follow through with it, but I oft find myself watching documentaries about it, seeing what others have done that worked or didn't, what got them caught, and fantasizing about how I could "get away with it" without getting caught or having to hurt anyone. (Am I giving too much away here? lol)

  5. cheapsk8chick profile image47
    cheapsk8chickposted 13 years ago

    taking out the trash.  if you know what I mean... wink  I can see myself as part of a cartel "cleaning up" after dirty Lou or whoever...

  6. profile image0
    surlyoldcatposted 13 years ago

    I have actually given this very long deliberation and I really cannot come up with anything of a serious nature should this life-changing event transpire.
    Knowing my luck, I'd probably wind up cat rustling in Arizona ore something just as silly.

    Seems the way of the world sometimes...

  7. DerekWrite profile image59
    DerekWriteposted 13 years ago

    Probably a cyber type crime would suit me more since I'm always on the computer.

  8. Seeker7 profile image81
    Seeker7posted 13 years ago

    Think I'd fancy having a go at being a cat burglar. I don't advocate crime, but some of these thiefs do have many talented skills. I wouldn't be involved in any violence though, if I thought people would get hurt accidentally or otherwise I would bide my time and plan a better target.

  9. stclairjack profile image77
    stclairjackposted 13 years ago

    i guess i'm very old school, but i'd have to pick moonshine making,.... and yes itsstill done,... and yes, is an art,.. if i'm ona get busted, i'm gona get busted living up to my roots and rep.

  10. robertbradley profile image60
    robertbradleyposted 13 years ago

    Garage sale shop lifter.  People probably wouldn't care that much about the stolen items, greatly reducing my chances of being reported, or worse, being caught by the fuzz.

  11. The Earth Goat profile image69
    The Earth Goatposted 13 years ago

    I'd steal a spaceship and colonise Mars.

  12. profile image0
    Husky1970posted 13 years ago

    Being a modern day Robin Hood, stealing from the rich to give to the honest and deserving poor.

  13. brandonfowler66 profile image74
    brandonfowler66posted 13 years ago

    I would definetely have to choose the life of a bank robber kinda like bonnie and clyde but wouldnt get too greedy and wait a couple years before my next heist so it wouldnt be expected.

  14. Hezekiah profile image82
    Hezekiahposted 13 years ago

    It would have to be clever bank fraund. Diverting uncalculated 0.0000001's of money into other accounts. millionths that are over looked by standard calculations Hehe.

  15. tgkessler profile image59
    tgkesslerposted 13 years ago

    Definitely cyber crime.  And it really would not be that hard.  People treat the internet like the Holy Bible these days.  Pages on websites are trusted like God given truth, personal information is shared so freely and a lot of gullible people think that the internet is a great way to be a millionaire.

  16. january1101 profile image60
    january1101posted 13 years ago

    For certain I would become a prostitute.  After all, I love both the task and the money.

  17. AskAshlie3433 profile image61
    AskAshlie3433posted 13 years ago

    If I had a choice of my specialty, it would have to be BANKS.

  18. shannon86 profile image60
    shannon86posted 13 years ago

    Art theft. It seems like a classy type of criminal to me. Plus, I think my apartment would look nice with some original Picasso in it. tongue

  19. What Is Q profile image73
    What Is Qposted 13 years ago

    Yeah, everyone wants to rob a bank. I want to rob a bank. But I'd pile up all the cash and burn it, just to make people wonder what my motives were. So yeah, I'd rob a bank, but not for the money, just the thrills. If I had to do a crime that I actually got money out of, I guess it'd be kidnapping. And I'd ransom people for a ridiculously low ammount. Like 100 dollars or something. And I'd do that about twice a day.

  20. Mark Upshaw profile image59
    Mark Upshawposted 13 years ago

    Yes, a wall street banker or derivatives dealer.

  21. Stump Parrish profile image59
    Stump Parrishposted 13 years ago

    I would chose to be a politician, What better way is there to assure that you wont get caught than by being in a position to write the laws. Hours are easy and the government actually pays for your transportation to and from the scene of each crime.If you do get caught, chances are you will end up in a prison that is being run by someone you regularly took bribes from. Should be easy time with all the weed you can smoke. You dont actually think they burn everything they steal from hardworking American farmers, do you?

  22. blogginguniverse profile image60
    blogginguniverseposted 13 years ago

    Become a politician and do what all of them do: get a cabinet post and sell your principles, your constituents, your constituency and your country down the river.

  23. profile image0
    wilbury4posted 13 years ago

    To be forced into a life of crime would mean that one would need to turn to crime to survive! So, I suppose a common thief, a shoplifter, a poacher etc would be the natural choices.

  24. akirchner profile image92
    akirchnerposted 13 years ago

    Well, Wayne....I'm not sure I could turn to a life of crime simply because I can't manage a poker face for anything.  I have a feeling I'd be caught in 5 seconds. 

    I think it would all depend on the circumstances because folks generally do what they have to do when faced with no other choice. 

    I'd probably try to be a smuggler.  I don't think I could be a thief though I could always try.  Chances running about 50/50 that I'd get caught and thrown in the clink.  I think I'm much too old for any other 'line of work' so to speak and all those nickels wouldn't add up to much in the end...so to speak!

  25. lorlie6 profile image72
    lorlie6posted 13 years ago

    Awesome question, Wayne!  I do believe I'd go into high-end drug dealing.  Seems to be where the money is.
    Another, perhaps odd choice would have to be a well-planned and organized robbery of a Vegas Casino.
    Bank robberies are SO last year, don't you think?  I think it would be quite THE organizational dream project-or nightmare if that's your take.  Taking down a casino would be quite a production, don't you think?  Creativity would be a must for the planners.
    Hmm, I just may Hub this...thanks!

  26. Harvey Stelman profile image61
    Harvey Stelmanposted 13 years ago

    A hit man, don't ask!  That's all I wanted to say, but Hub said it has to be longer. This is now longer, but I have no idea how long they want it to be. H

  27. Stan Fletcher profile image61
    Stan Fletcherposted 13 years ago

    https://usercontent2.hubstatic.com/4469393_f260.jpg

    I've given this a lot of thought Wayne, especially after being clobbered by the recession. Bank robbery is the first thing that comes to mind, but I would chicken out as I sat in the parking lot. Maybe kidnapping elderly people who have lost their minds. I would tell them we're going on a fun outing and then take them for ice cream or something while I negotiated with the family for the cash. This way they're not traumatized. I could tell them I'm their grandson. They would have a swell time, and I would get the money. I would film the whole thing so that I could sell the book and movie rights if I got caught. After I got the money, I would change my identity, go in for some plastic surgery and then head to the Caribbean to work on my tan..... Great question, and one that I'm sure most people have pondered if they're honest.

  28. CommonAnomaly profile image61
    CommonAnomalyposted 13 years ago

    Grand theft auto. You'd get caught quickly, but if you steal a nice car, you can ride that baby for miles until you're stuck behind bars. It'd be a nice joy ride while it lasted.

  29. Gordon F. profile image59
    Gordon F.posted 13 years ago

    I Agree with Pente : I would be a White collar criminal. Minimal risk for maximum profit, that is what crime is about.

  30. Jangaplanet profile image61
    Jangaplanetposted 13 years ago

    If i was forced to turn to a life of crime i would become either a cop or go into politics. At least it would be legalized crime with honors.

  31. Jarn profile image60
    Jarnposted 13 years ago

    I would hire out as an assassin, but I would only ever kill judges and jury members. Good luck finding someone to find me guilty.

  32. profile image0
    Grandma's Houseposted 13 years ago

    Fascinating question! I like the idea of computer crime - something that involves transferring millions of dollars into my unnamed Swiss bank account and then through to my account in the Channel Islands where there is no income tax and no tracking of deposits... did I mention my European charge card that facilitates all this with no trackback to America? Wait - I may have this mixed up with political office (hehehe).

 
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