Which of the following best describes an overt act in the context of attempt?

An overt act, in the context of criminal attempts, refers to an action that demonstrates a person's intention to commit a crime and signifies steps taken beyond just having a thought or making a decision. For an attempt charge to be valid, there must be clear evidence of actionable conduct that indicates the defendant's purpose to complete the crime.

Choosing an act that shows preparation indicates that the defendant is moving forward with their criminal plan rather than just contemplating it. This could involve steps like purchasing tools to commit a burglary or planning the logistics of a theft. Therefore, recognizing the act as one of preparation highlights its relevance to the legal concept of attempt—formation of intent alone is not sufficient without some tangible movement toward executing the crime.

The other options do not satisfy the criteria for an overt act. Simply thinking about committing a crime lacks the necessary physical manifestation of intent. An act that could be any random action is too broad, as not all actions inherently indicate a criminal intent. Finally, a decision to commit a crime is again merely an internal resolution and does not involve any preparation or action toward the criminal act itself. Hence, the choice reflecting an overt act as a demonstration of preparation beyond mere intention accurately encapsulates its legal definition and significance in attempting to commit a crime