Mayombe rituals require the use of human bones, grave robbing in Miami, New York and Florida are often assumed to have Palo linkages. Mayomberos are either directly implicated in robbing bones from graves or indirectly implicated for buying skulls and bones from grave diggers who steal them from cemeteries. The actual instances of such crimes are currently unknown in any jurisdiction across the nation.

Youth Subculture Satanists who may be either true believers or true criminals, are sometimes linked to cemetery desecration, especially tombstone vandalism and grave robbing. For example:

Officer Tim Boyle of the Maryland National Capital Park Police recently investigated a case involving five juveniles who overturned tombstones, dug up a baby's grave and stole the body from a Montgomery County cemetery. Events reconstructed during the subsequent trial were as follows: five juveniles were smoking marijuana when one young man began discussing his involvement in a local Satanic group called 'The Knights of Satan's Army." The juveniles spontaneously decided to steal a skull from a cemetery. The ringleader was convicted of grave robbing and sentenced to 18 months in prison. (Boyle interview, April 1989.)

Detective Pat Metoyer recalled two Los Angeles based Satanic crimes committed by young dabblers. In the first, cemetery tombstones were stolen and later turned up as altars for a Satanic worship service. The perpetrators were caught and "copped a plea" for vandalizing a cemetery. In the second case, the perpetrator stole a skull and, during the trial, indicated the skull was taken and used as part of a Satanic ritual. He was subsequently convicted of grave robbing in a court trial. (Metoyer interview, May 5, 1989.)

Church Desecration. Most often committed by true criminals who use dabbling in the occult as an excuse to commit a crime, church desecration includes the following actions: destroying Bibles; urinating and defecating on Holy objects and furniture; tearing crucifixes off walls; and destroying rosaries and crucifixes. Such vandalism has been reported in many communities across the nation. It is important to note, however, that the motivations behind such vandalism are increasingly linked to hate or bias crime rather than occult crime. For instance, many localities are reporting that synagogues are increasingly the victims of spray-painted swastikas and anti-Semitic graffiti.

Theft

Thefts from Christian churches, Jewish synagogues, hospitals, morgues, medical schools and funeral homes are often linked with occult crime. Items that are most often taken include cadavers, skeletal remains and religious artifacts from churches and synagogues which are considered sacred: crucifixes, communion waters, wine, chalices, etc.

Thefts are committed both by true believers who require actual holy artifacts for their rituals and by true criminals for a variety of reasons.

Graffiti

Graffiti is one of the most common crimes related to the occult. While a small amount of graffiti is probably related to other occult groups, the vast majority is directly related to involvement in Satanic groups. All law enforcement officials contacted in the course of this study reported instances of Satanic-related graffiti, most of which depicted Satanic symbolism. Additionally, all felt that the vast majority of such instances were committed by Youth Subculture Satanists, most of whom were dabbling in the occult.

Arson

Arson is another crime which is almost always attributed to Satanists, especially Youth Subculture Satanists. Among the most common places for occultists to commit arson are churches and synagogues in which particularly holy sections or artifacts are burned, and houses or buildings where damaging evidence could be uncovered by investigators.

Additionally, some law enforcement officers have found Satanic graffiti at some arson scenes.

Animal Sacrifice

Although sacrificing animals for religious rites has a long and significant history in many nations, such practices have generally avoided the annals of American history. As the number of recent Latin American arrivals to the United States increases, however, so do the number of believers in Afro-Caribbean religions that practice animal mutilation and sacrifice. These are primarily the actions of true believers, primarily Santerians, who sacrifice animals as part of rituals designed to please their gods and to invoke some kind of magic.

During the past several decades, American santeros have most often practiced their rituals in secrecy and in safety, while invoking their Constitutional protection to practice their religion of choice. Indeed, the laws have been on the Santeros' side; few states have considered outlawing animal sacrifice for religious reasons. Indeed, almost all states have kosher laws allowing animals to be slaughtered for religious purposes if the primary purpose is for practitioners to consume the animal remains.

In Santeria, however, animals are sacrificed primarily to propitiate the gods, not for human consumption. While the animal remains are sometimes consumed subsequent to most rituals and ceremonies, consumption is not the primary purpose. Consequently, as the number of practicing santeros continues to climb and adherents move to urban centers across the nation, and reports of animal sacrifice attributed to self-styled Satanists are increasing, new state