Police Problem Solving for SSPO and OACP Test

Definitions:

• Theft: Occurs when a person fraudulently and without color of right takes, or fraudulently converts to his/her own use, anything with intent to deprive the owner of it.
  Robbery: Occurs when a person steals, and for the purpose of extorting whatever is stolen or to prevent or overcome resistance to the stealing, uses violence or threats of violence to a person or property.
  Break and Enter: Occurs when a person enters a place with intent to commit an indictable offense therein. “Place” includes a dwelling-house, building, or structure.
  Mischief: Occurs when a person willfully destroys or damages property, renders property dangerous, useless, inoperative, or ineffective, or obstructs, interrupts, or interferes with the lawful use, enjoyment, or operation of property.

1. Officer Chen responds to a call at a department store. A suspect was seen putting a smartwatch in his pocket and walking out the front door without paying. He did not speak to anyone. Based on the rules, how should this be classified?

• • A) Robbery
  • B) Break and Enter
  • C) Theft
  • D) Mischief

2. A suspect throws a brick through the window of a parked car, shattering the glass, but does not enter the car or take anything. Based on the rules, how is this classified?

• • A) Attempted Theft
  • B) Mischief
  • C) Break and Enter
  • D) Robbery

3. A suspect walks into a bank, hands the teller a note that says “Give me the money or I will hurt you,” and flees with the cash. Based on the rules, this is:

• • A) Theft
  • B) Mischief
  • C) Robbery

D) Break and Enter

4. A suspect forces a lock on a backyard shed, enters, and looks around for tools to steal but flees when a light turns on. He takes nothing. Based on the rules, this is:

• • A) Attempted Theft
  • B) Break and Enter
  • C) Mischief
  • D) Trespassing

1. Answer: C (Theft)

• Why it is correct: The suspect took the smartwatch fraudulently without color of right (didn’t pay) and intended to deprive the owner. There was no violence (ruling out Robbery) and he walked through a door (ruling out Break and Enter).
• Why others are wrong:
  • A (Robbery): Requires violence or threats. The suspect did not speak to or touch anyone.
  • B (Break and Enter): Requires entering a place to commit an offense. While he was in a store, entering a public store during hours is not usually “Breaking” unless specified, but primarily, the core offense here is the taking.
  • D (Mischief): The property was not damaged or rendered useless.

2. Answer: B (Mischief)

• Why it is correct: The suspect rendered the property (window) dangerous/useless and damaged it.
• Why others are wrong:
  • A (Attempted Theft): The scenario states he did not enter or try to take anything; he only broke the glass.
  • D (Robbery): No person was threatened.

3. Answer: C (Robbery)

• Why it is correct: The suspect stole cash AND used threats of violence (“I will hurt you”) to overcome resistance.
• Why others are wrong:
  • A (Theft): Theft does not include the element of threat/violence.
  • B (Mischief): Property was not destroyed.

4. Answer: B (Break and Enter)

• Why it is correct: The suspect entered a “place” (shed/structure) with the intent to commit an indictable offense (stealing tools). The offense does not need to be completed; the entry with intent is sufficient.
• Why others are wrong:
  • A (Attempted Theft): While true, B&E is the more specific classification for the act of entering the structure. In police testing, B&E hierarchy usually supersedes simple attempt theft.
  • C (Mischief): He forced the lock, which is damage, but the intent to steal makes it B&E.

Written by: Brian Stocker MA.,

Published by: Complete Test Preparation Inc.

Updated: Tuesday, December 16th, 2025
Published: Tuesday, December 16th, 2025