Criterios para determinar el valor de la propiedad en delitos

Explicación Simple

Esta ley dice cómo se debe calcular el valor de las cosas robadas o dañadas. Si no sabemos cuánto valen, podemos ver cuánto costaría reemplazarlas. También se considera lo que podría haber ganado alguien si vendiera el artículo.

Es como si fueras a vender un coche usado. Si no sabes cuánto vale, puedes mirar precios en internet o pensar en cuánto pagaste por él y cuánto costaría conseguir uno similar.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan es dueño de una tienda de ropa y le roban una chaqueta que cuesta 100 dólares. Según la ley, el valor de la chaqueta se determina por el precio que Juan normalmente cobraría por ella, que es 100 dólares. Si no se puede saber este precio, se podría usar el costo para comprar una chaqueta nueva.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

570.020 - Determination of value. 570.020. Determination of value. — For the purposes of this chapter, the value of property shall be ascertained as follows: (1) Except as otherwise specified in this section, "value" means the market value of the property at the time and place of the crime, or if such cannot be satisfactorily ascertained, the cost of replacement of the property within a reasonable time after the crime. If the victim is a merchant, and the property is a type that the merchant sells in the ordinary course of business, then the property shall be valued at the price that such merchant would normally sell such property; (2) Whether or not they have been issued or delivered, certain written instruments, not including those having a readily ascertainable market value such as some public and corporate bonds and securities, shall be evaluated as follows: (a) The value of an instrument constituting evidence of debt, such as a check, draft or promissory note, shall be deemed the amount due or collectible thereon or thereby, such figure ordinarily being the face amount of the indebtedness less any portion thereof which has been satisfied; (b) The value of any other instrument which creates, releases, discharges or otherwise affects any valuable legal right, privilege or obligation shall be deemed the greatest amount of economic loss which the owner of the instrument might reasonably suffer by virtue of the loss of the instrument; (3) When the value of property cannot be