Study: the most common crime among Russian pensioners is theft

Among Russian pensioners, the most common crime is petty theft. Most often, elderly people steal food, dishes and pet food. This is reported by the publication “Important Stories”, which, together with the “Fourth Sector” media project, studied court verdicts for 2019.

Under Article 158 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (theft), 2,111 sentences were passed against people of retirement age. In second place is Article 119 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (threat of murder or infliction of grievous harm), with 1,256 convictions. In third place is Article 264 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (violation of traffic rules), 1238 sentences.

Pensioners can break into a neighbor's house or take someone else's phone left in a store. In Naberezhnye Chelny, a woman stole three bags of cat food from a store, and in Ukhta, a pensioner was stopped with stolen eggs and candy, “Important Stories” writes.

The damage from every third theft that pensioners committed by entering a home, non-residential premises or storage facility does not exceed 2.5 thousand rubles, and from every second - 5 thousand.

If the crime was committed alone, without entering the premises, and the amount of damage does not exceed 2.5 thousand rubles, then it may fall under the scope of the Administrative Code rather than the Criminal Code.

In 44% of cases, pensioners receive a suspended sentence for theft, in 22% - a fine, in 18% - correctional labor. The actual term is assigned only in 15% of cases.