# Why is planning a crime a crime itself? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 28, 2011, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-planning-a-crime-a-crime-itself/597828 "2011-09-28T01:01:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-planning-a-crime-a-crime-itself/597828/21 "2011-09-28T18:11:00Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > I’ve always toyed with the idea of setting up a website to crowdsource fantasy bank robberies. For example, we’d pick a real-life bank, and crowdsource how to rob it. The point would be fun (i.e., the “fantasy” aspect) rather than to actually committ the crime. Hopefully for each target bank we’d get insiders that either spill information or agree to participate in the caper. There’s actually a cheesy (but entertaining) independent movie about this very topic called _Foolproof_. A group of friends make a game out of planning bank robberies. Then their just-for-fun plans get stolen by real robbers! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2011, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-planning-a-crime-a-crime-itself/597828/22 "2011-09-28T20:18:14Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > So if I have somehow legally obtained blueprints to a bank, somehow legally obtained lots of explosives and if I have written in my diary “Dear diary, tomorrow I’m gonna use these explosives to blow through a weak point in the bank wall as identified by the blueprints” it’s legal as long as I don’t talk to anyone else about it? You did take some actual steps - obtaining blueprints and explosives - towards committing the crime, even if those acts were not themselves illegal. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-planning-a-crime-a-crime-itself/597828/23 "2011-09-29T00:48:26Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:20, topic:597828”] > [@Nava](#): > > And forget about “having the server in China would give me immunity” - it doesn’t work for paedoporn. You would still be in the US (and your correspondents wherever) while performing the prosecutable action. But if I recall correctly, **Balthisar** _lives_ in China. [/QUOTE] I do, and let me reinforce (for posterity and American customs) that I was talking about bank robbery, and not pedoporn! > [@friedo](#): > > There’s actually a cheesy (but entertaining) independent movie about this very topic called _Foolproof_. A group of friends make a game out of planning bank robberies. Then their just-for-fun plans get stolen by real robbers! :eek: I’ll have to look for that one. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-planning-a-crime-a-crime-itself/597828/24 "2011-09-29T06:28:34Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > I do, and let me reinforce (for posterity and American customs) that I was talking about bank robbery, and not pedoporn! I’d forgotten you were in China, but it’s still “conspiracy to commit a crime”; if a single one of your correspondents is abroad, make that “international conspiracy to commit a crime”. From your note to American customs, you do intend to leave at some point… so, if the bank is in China you get the Chinese police, and if it’s abroad you get an Interpol warrant. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-planning-a-crime-a-crime-itself/597828.md?page=1)