ABSTRACT
So far in this book we have primarily focused on offences against the person. Most people agree that offences against the person are more serious than offences against property. One important reason is that the harm in property offences in generally easily remedied. If someone steals your car, you can buy a new one. If someone chops your hand off, you cannot. That, however, may be too simplistic a point. Property can have great emotional value. If the family photograph album is stolen, it may not be easily replaced. Some property offences, especially burglary, can be traumatic and some victims take quite some time to recover. One interesting contrast between offences against the person and
those against property is as follows. The offences against the person tend to focus on the gravity of the harm: did the case involve actual bodily harm or grievous bodily harm? Whereas offences against property focus on the way the harm was done: was the property obtained by the use of fraud or force?
