Final answer:
The basic contention of both lifestyle theory and routine activities theory is that crimes occur when motivated offenders encounter suitable targets without capable guardians, leading to criminal opportunity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The basic contention of both lifestyle theory and routine activities theory is that crimes occur when motivated offenders meet suitable targets without capable guardians. This suggests that crime happens because of the daily patterns and activities of individuals which may converge with the opportunity for crime to be committed. Thus, C) Crimes occur when motivated offenders meet suitable targets is the answer to the student's question. These theories are differentiated from others such as social disorganization theory, which posits that crime rates are higher in communities with weak social ties and ineffective social controls. In contrast, conflict theory focuses on social and economic factors as roots of crime, highlighting how inequality can lead to criminal deviance.