Ninja rocks
Encyclopedia
Ninja rocks are broken shards of spark plug
s. Since they can quickly and almost silently fracture the glass window
s on most cars, ninja rocks are increasingly the tool of choice in "smash-and-grab" auto
burglaries. They have no traditional association with the ninja
or ninjutsu
, only being named such due to their "silent but deadly" function in burglaries.
as of 2003, ninja rocks are explicitly listed as burglary
tools, and their possession with intent to burglarize is a misdemeanor
punishable by up to six months in county jail and/or a fine of up to $1000. Legal records do not use the phrase "ninja rocks", preferring more precise phrases such as "ceramic
or porcelain spark plug chips or pieces".
Until 2003, "burglary tools" in California did not include devices to break glass
. In late 2001, two important convictions including possession of ninja rocks were appeal
ed. In People v. Gordon (2001) 90 Cal.App.4th 1409 (Review denied), Division 1 (San Diego
) of the Fourth District Court of Appeal found that possession of ninja rocks was not punishable under section 466 of the penal code. That court applied the ejusdem generis rule of construction, deciding that ninja rocks were not enough alike the then-listed burglary tools. On the other hand, in In re Robert B. (2001) 93 Cal.App.4th 963, Division 3 (Orange County
) contradicted this interpretation of section 466 and upheld the conviction. On February 13, 2002, the latter case was granted review by the California Supreme Court
.
Two days later, the state assembly
rendered the grant of review moot by proposing in Assembly Bill 2015 to amend section 466 to include ninja rocks. The bill passed unanimously
in both houses in August. Brian Franks notes that AB 2015 was concurrent with a "legislative flurry after Sept. 11, 2001
".
found that the ability of ninja rocks to quietly break tempered glass meant that their possession could be used to establish intent to burgle, even in a case where the ninja rocks were not actually thrown at any glass because the burglars had found an unlocked door. One defendant appealed his conviction to the Court of Appeals on the grounds that "the trial court erred by admitting an unusual burglary tool into evidence". The Court of Appeals denied this reasoning and upheld the conviction.
Spark plug
A spark plug is an electrical device that fits into the cylinder head of some internal combustion engines and ignites compressed fuels such as aerosol, gasoline, ethanol, and liquefied petroleum gas by means of an electric spark.Spark plugs have an insulated central electrode which is connected by...
s. Since they can quickly and almost silently fracture the glass window
Window
A window is a transparent or translucent opening in a wall or door that allows the passage of light and, if not closed or sealed, air and sound. Windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent material like float glass. Windows are held in place by frames, which...
s on most cars, ninja rocks are increasingly the tool of choice in "smash-and-grab" auto
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
burglaries. They have no traditional association with the ninja
Ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
or ninjutsu
Ninjutsu
or may be:*the arts associated with espionage and assassination in feudal Japan, see Ninja*modern schools of martial arts claiming to be based in these traditions, see Modern Schools of Ninjutsu*fictional depictions, see Ninja in popular culture...
, only being named such due to their "silent but deadly" function in burglaries.
How they work
The effectiveness of the ceramic shards is a result of the hardness of the material relative to tempered glass and the structure of the glass. Tempered glass used in automobile windows is softer on the Mohs scale than spark plug ceramic (specifically aluminum oxide ceramic). Aluminum oxide ceramic rates a 9 on the Mohs scale; diamonds are 10, glass is 6.5. Additionally, tempered glass is manufactured with an extremely high surface tension, giving it strength, but also causing it to abruptly shatter into thousands of tiny pieces when it breaks. The result is that the hard, sharp shard of ceramic creates a small scratch in the glass which then rapidly propagates across the entire piece of glass as the surface tension is released. The glass subsequently shatters into many small pieces.California
In CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
as of 2003, ninja rocks are explicitly listed as burglary
Burglary
Burglary is a crime, the essence of which is illicit entry into a building for the purposes of committing an offense. Usually that offense will be theft, but most jurisdictions specify others which fall within the ambit of burglary...
tools, and their possession with intent to burglarize is a misdemeanor
Misdemeanor
A misdemeanor is a "lesser" criminal act in many common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished much less severely than felonies, but theoretically more so than administrative infractions and regulatory offences...
punishable by up to six months in county jail and/or a fine of up to $1000. Legal records do not use the phrase "ninja rocks", preferring more precise phrases such as "ceramic
Ceramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
or porcelain spark plug chips or pieces".
Until 2003, "burglary tools" in California did not include devices to break glass
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
. In late 2001, two important convictions including possession of ninja rocks were appeal
Appeal
An appeal is a petition for review of a case that has been decided by a court of law. The petition is made to a higher court for the purpose of overturning the lower court's decision....
ed. In People v. Gordon (2001) 90 Cal.App.4th 1409 (Review denied), Division 1 (San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
) of the Fourth District Court of Appeal found that possession of ninja rocks was not punishable under section 466 of the penal code. That court applied the ejusdem generis rule of construction, deciding that ninja rocks were not enough alike the then-listed burglary tools. On the other hand, in In re Robert B. (2001) 93 Cal.App.4th 963, Division 3 (Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
) contradicted this interpretation of section 466 and upheld the conviction. On February 13, 2002, the latter case was granted review by the California Supreme Court
Supreme Court of California
The Supreme Court of California is the highest state court in California. It is headquartered in San Francisco and regularly holds sessions in Los Angeles and Sacramento. Its decisions are binding on all other California state courts.-Composition:...
.
Two days later, the state assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
rendered the grant of review moot by proposing in Assembly Bill 2015 to amend section 466 to include ninja rocks. The bill passed unanimously
Unanimity
Unanimity is agreement by all people in a given situation. When unanimous, everybody is of the same mind and acting together as one. Though unlike uniformity, it does not constitute absolute agreement. Many groups consider unanimous decisions a sign of agreement, solidarity, and unity...
in both houses in August. Brian Franks notes that AB 2015 was concurrent with a "legislative flurry after Sept. 11, 2001
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
".
Washington (state)
One Washington trial courtTrial court
A trial court or court of first instance is a court in which trials take place. Such courts are said to have original jurisdiction.- In the United States :...
found that the ability of ninja rocks to quietly break tempered glass meant that their possession could be used to establish intent to burgle, even in a case where the ninja rocks were not actually thrown at any glass because the burglars had found an unlocked door. One defendant appealed his conviction to the Court of Appeals on the grounds that "the trial court erred by admitting an unusual burglary tool into evidence". The Court of Appeals denied this reasoning and upheld the conviction.