Let us study in the first place crimes and misdemeanors against property:

I. Offenses, against Property.

Prussia, 1854–1878. New Cases to 100,000 of the Population.

Years. Theft. Embezzlement. Robbery and Blackmail. Receiving Stolen Goods, Etc. Perjury, Etc. Forgery. Malicious Mischief.
1854 334 28 1.0 40 17 5.4 10
1855 354 29 1.1 34 16 5.7 8
1856 386 31 1.1 43 17 6.0 8
1857 246 23 1.0 38 15 7.0 10
1858 213 22 0.8 30 12 7.3 11
1859 219 22 0.8 25 12 7.5 12
1860 229 24 0.8 30 13 7.7 12
1861 232 24 0.8 26 13 8.1 12
1862 229 24 0.9 25 13 8.2 14
1863 206 23 0.8 21 14 7.5 15
1864 206 24 1.0 25 13 7.4 17
1865 227 24 0.8 25 14 7.6 17
1866 222 23 0.8 24 14 7.2 17
1867 265 25 0.9 32 15 8.1 17
1868 293 27 1.2 36 16 8.0 17
1869 241 25 1.0 30 15 7.1 18
1870 211 22 0.9 27 14 6.4 17
1871 190 18 0.8 33 10 3.2 14
1872 209 20 1.4 46 11 3.4 17
1873 196 19 1.4 46 11 3.5 18
1874 216 22 1.7 50 13 3.7 19
1875 209 23 1.7 49 13 4.2 19
1876 223 25 1.9 50 16 4.9 21
1877 238 28 2.4 51 18 5.5 22
1878 257 30 2.4 55 20 5.6 24

[[77]]

Prussia, 1882–1896. Persons Convicted to 100,000 Inhabitants over 12 Years.

Years. Theft. Embezzlement. Robbery and Blackmail. Receiving Stolen Goods, Etc. Perjury, Etc. Forgery. Malicious Mischief.
1882 337 44 1.5 30 29 8.0 38
1883 323 42 1.4 27 29 7.7 37
1884 322 44 1.7 27 31 8.4 41
1885 289 44 1.4 25 30 8.0 41
1886 282 43 1.5 24 32 8.3 41
1887 267 42 1.4 24 35 8.6 43
1888 262 43 1.2 23 36 8.6 38
1889 289 46 1.4 25 41 10.0 40
1890 278 46 1.5 25 41 10.0 42
1891 292 47 1.6 25 44 10.9 41
1892 329 52 1.6 30 48 11.7 42
1893 298 45 1.5 26 36 9.0 41
1894 276 51 1.4 25 51 12.9 47
1895 271 53 24 52 13.2
1896 259 50 22 50 12.8

The following table gives the prices of certain important foods (per 50 Kilogr.):

Years. Wheat. Rye. Potatoes.
1848 7.49 4.82 1.84
1849 7.29 3.87 1.45
1850 6.91 4.55 1.55
1851 7.47 6.26 2.08
1852 8.59 7.72 2.48
1853 10.25 8.50 2.47
1854 12.90 10.40 3.17
1855 14.21 11.45 3.37
1856 13.51 10.64 3.13
1857 10.18 6.87 2.18
1858 9.08 6.38 1.91
1859 8.93 6.79 1.98
1860 10.48 7.65 2.41
1861 11.04 7.71 2.79
1862 10.68 7.79 2.47
1863 9.18 6.78 2.04
1864 7.95 5.69 2.10
1865 8.13 6.24 2.03
1866 9.80 7.30 2.05
1867 12.89 9.87 2.95
1868 12.48 9.84 2.62
1869 9.70 8.08 2.16[[78]]
1870 10.14 7.78 2.58
1871 11.70 8.60 3.05
1872 12.10 8.40 2.95
1873 13.20 9.60 3.00
1874 12.00 9.90 3.35
1875 9.80 8.60 2.75
1876 10.50 8.70 2.82
1877 11.50 8.85 3.18
1878 10.10 7.15 2.82
1879 9.80 7.20 3.08
1880 10.95 9.65 3.25
1881 11.00 10.10 2.85

A comparison of these figures with those of crime will show that the crimes against property increase in the years of high prices up to 1855. In 1857 prices fell and crime decreased.