1. What is the most common crime in Lithuania?

What are the main causes of

the crime? What can the government do to reduce the crime rate? Can you
guess whether there will be more or less crime in the future?
Nowadays we often face crimes in our lives. Formerly people were leaving houses
without locking it and they werent afraid that someone would steal something. But now
people put at least two locks on their door because every day we see in TV, hear on the
radio or read in newspapers about burglaries, assassinations, assaults and other offences.
However, there are crimes which are more common than other. There are various crimes
which are widespread in different countries.
Criminality is a big problem in Lithuania too. I think the most frequent are vandalism,
thefts and pickpocketing. My family also was a victim of burglary. It happened three or four
years ago when we were going to visit my grandparents who live in Kupikis. We stayed
overnight in Kupikis and next day when we came back home we saw that someone broke
into our house because the lock of door and one window were broken. Luckily, thieves
didnt find very valuable things.
Fortunately, the government try to reduce criminal rate. There are many suggestions
how to prevent crimes. But I think that the most effective way to do it is reducing poverty in
country. Most often people commit a crime when they dont have job and money for living.
Poverty makes people feel frustrated and disappointed. Of course its not always a cause of
criminality but in my opinion it is a crucial reason.
I think that if we help people fight with social problems and try to help them, there will
be less crime in the future. It is very important to grasp that when we aid for one person we
do good job not just for him but also for everyone and we make world better place to live.

2. Is shoplifting common in Lithuania? What kind of people shoplift? What kind

of things do they steal? What punishment do the shoplifters get for the crime
they commit? How do shops try to stop shoplifting?
Sometimes when we go shopping we become witnesses of thefts. Shoplifting is one of
the most common crimes committed by teenagers.
However, not everyone can shoplift. Because people who steal have no sense of
honesty, fear. I think that who shoplifts doesnt depend on how poor person is because
there are many penniless people who will rather beg for charity than will steal from shops.
More often shoplift teenagers because they want to show for their friends how cool
they are. Also sometimes they dont feel responsible for their actions. These culprits steal
things which arent necessary for living. That means that they steal not because they are
hungry and dont have to eat or they indeed need something. And shoplifting for them is
irrelevant action an adventure.
Once I was waiting near the cash register and I saw a boy who took gum from the shelf
and put it in the pocket. I was 6 or 7 years old so I was afraid to tell it for someone so I just
pretended that I didnt see anything. Next time I saw teenagers who were caught by
security guard because he saw them shoplifting. Then security guard took them to
administration of the shop. I think that they got finned and their parents were informed
about it.
Shops try to prevent stealing thats why in almost every shop there are many
surveillance cameras and security guards. And sometimes I am scared of being wrongly
accused of stealing because salesperson not always scan items and when you go through
alarm system security apparatus they start bleeping.
All in all, I think that shoplifting isnt petty crime. However, I think that nowadays it
isnt so hard to catch an offender because there are many means to do it.
 3. Juvenile crime in Lithuania. Types of crimes they commit. The age of young
criminals. The circumstances that lead young people to committing a crime.
The ways to prevent juveniles from committing a crime.
Nowadays we often face crimes which are committed by young people. Most often
these crimes are petty but still crimes, for example, shoplifting, pickpocketing and other. If
no one deters young person from committing a crime, when he will grow up he can become
a real culprit.
Young person starts offending law from petty crimes but later he approaches bigger
offences. So I think crucial thing is how learn children about what you cant do.
There are many ways to prevent juvenile crime.
Firstly, we have to educate children I think it is the best way to reduce offences. And
there are many means to do it. You dont need to give a lecture about what is good and
what is bad. For example, now we read play Atalynas by Kazys Binkis in Lithuanian
lessons. And from this piece you can learn that the most important things arent material,
self-sacrifice, communication and trust in others: You have to search for a human not for a
wolf in the person - says the hero of the play.
Secondly, we have to find why juvenile commit crimes. Because when we know
reasons we can try to change it. For example, if a culprit commits crime because there are
problems in his family, then psychologist can help for him and his family to solve it.
Thirdly, the great way to prevent juvenile crimes is to pay attention for them because
people often offend the law when they want to be seen. I think that it is very important not
to make a drama out of small crime committed by young person and instead of that pay
attention and try to help for this person. It doesnt mean that we have to ignore these
crimes but we dont have to put shame and humiliate them.
All in all, if we help for such people we can prevent felonies in the future.

4. What is your opinion about graffiti? Is it art or crime? If it is crime what

punishment do criminals committing it get? What do you think is the main
cause of vandalism? How can we fight it?
Every day when we go somewhere we see graffiti on almost each house. Some people
are angry because of that and say it is a daub. But other people think that it is art. Who is
right? Is graffiti art or vandalism?
In 2013 Vilnius Street Art festival took place in Lithuania. And for this occasion
Lithuanian artist Ernestas Zachareviius created a beautiful picture on old cinema theatre
Lietuva. But after few weeks this art work was disfigured by real artists. This incident
shows two types of graffiti artist and I think we have to watch differently in their art. For
example, people who just write Solomon arent artists; they can be called vandals and this
daub on the wall doesnt fascinate people. But not all graffiti artists are vandals, many of
young people are dedicated for art they doing and graffiti is the way to express themselves.
They create and astonish passers-by. Often people hurry to judge street art and call artists
vandals. However, I think that it is crucial point where and how art is made.
The first type of people is culprits who commit a crime and they mostly are finned
amount of money which depends on where and how big the graffiti is. But it is very hard to
catch vandals and fine them; the best way to unmask criminals is to catch them red-
handed. There are many other ways how government try to stop or at least reduce graffiti
on important buildings. One of the mean to do it is let them paint in special places.
Fortunately, despite of being very controversial topic graffiti is a petty crime which
damages just aesthetic view but doesnt harm people physically and morally. I think we
have to learn not to be so categorical and to grasp that street art can be art and not
vandalism.

5. What is the best way for police community to keep neighbourhoods safe? Is
there anything we as individuals do to reduce crime around us?
Nowadays many people complain of living in unsafe place. However, what do we do
for making it safe? Police cant secure neighbourhoods all over the country. Because of that
we together have to try to make our living place safe. There are many means how the
police urge us to do it.
Firstly, we can organize a community of safe neighbourhood. How could you do it? If
you think that your living place isnt safe and if there arise many problems because of
various offences, it is time to start talking with neighbours about taking precautions.
Secondly, you can to observe surroundings and when you see something suspicious
you can always call police. There are many signs which can help to recognize a culprit. For
example, a person who often comes in your neighbourhood when people arent at home or
a person who every day prowls around cars and parking-lot can be burglar or theft.
Thirdly, you can educate friends and other neighbourhoods about ways to reduce
criminality in Lithuania and spread ideas of making his neighbourhood safe. I think that
many people want to join reducing criminal rate but they just dont know how they can do
it.
But all in all, what can communication with neighbours give you? It helps avoid and
reduce criminality and make it easier to tackle crimes. Also it deters culprits of committing
a crime because when they know that there are community of safe neighbourhood they are
afraid of being caught red-handed. And last but not least advantage is that creating this
community improves relationships of neighbours.

6. A crime/petty crime or offence. Give a definition of each. Comment on the

types of punishment/offenders get from breaking a law or violating a rule.
Can harsher punishments or better education and upbringing reduce the
number of crime? What kinds of crimes are increasing? Why?
Nowadays we often face crimes in our lives. Formerly people were leaving houses
without locking it and they werent afraid that someone would steal something. But now
people put at least two locks on their door because every day we see in TV, hear on the
radio or read in newspapers about burglaries, assassinations, assaults and other offences.
However, there are different crimes and consequences of it are different.
Firstly, there is petty crime which is type of crime that is not considered serious when
compared with other offences. For example, in my opinion, shoplifting, pickpocketing and
vandalism are small crimes. The effects of petty crimes arent very serious. Often result of
petty crime is small material damage. Mostly these culprits are finned amount of money
which depends on how big harm is made.
Secondly, there is crime which means illegal activities. So, this word places all types of
offences.
Thirdly, there is offence which means illegal crime so, it is a synonym of crime.
Offences are divided in small and harsh. Example of small can be speeding, minor assaults,
property damage, offense behaviour. Harsh offences are murders, smuggling and etc. So
word offence has vast meaning. It means that consequences of these crimes also are
various depending on how serious harm is.
Every day we hear about more and more harsh offences and felonies committed in our
society. Indeed, I dont understand why there are so people committing crimes. Perhaps due
to being unhappy or probably there are crimes which influence other crimes. For example,
using drugs lead people to harsh crimes.
All in all, I think the best way to reduce crime rate is good education and upbringing
because it can form honest and fair person while he is kid. Then we will prevent crimes
while they will not have been committed.