When you do a Google image search for “burglar,” you get pictures of a stereotypical robber who is about to steal from a bank or jeweler. However, you may be surprised to find out burglary and theft are not the same thing. In fact, they are two separate crimes, and both make the list of the ten most common crimes in Utah. While they tend to go hand-in-hand, you can get charged with burglary without stealing a cent.

While Utah is a relatively safe place, one thing you should watch out for is fraud. It is one of the most common crimes in Utah. By definition, it is when someone uses deceit to take something from another person, such as money or property.

If you’ve watched any TV in the last 30 years, chances are you’ve seen dramatizations of the legal system played out.

‘Twas the night before Christmas in the city of Salt Lake. All was still, all was silent, not a soul was awake. The lights shone bright, throughout Temple Square. Soon, Old St. Nick would see all this flair.

Utah has a reputation of being one of the safest states in the nation, and the data backs it up. According to the CDC, the Beehive State has the eighth lowest rate of homicides at 2.7 per 100,000 people in 2021. That number equates to 91 total cases in one year. While that is relatively low, it doesn’t mean the state is completely risk free.

In Utah, the government has the right to take away your property that was used in a crime in a process called asset forfeiture. For example, if you are charged with trafficking drugs, the vehicle you used to transport illegal substances can be taken away. In most outcomes, that vehicle is no longer yours. It’s the government’s.