Burglary

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Burglary is a crime related to theft.

In the United States burglary is a felony and involves trespassing, or entering a building with intent to commit any crime, not necessarily a felony or theft. Thus a conviction for burglary may qualify as a conviction under a three strikes law or habitual criminal law, even though only something of low value or nothing at all was stolen.

In the United Kingdom, burglary is dealt with in the Theft Act 1968 under section 9. Subsection (1)(a) says that any person who enters any building, part of a building, inhabited vehicle or vessel with the intent to steal, cause grievous bodily harm, criminally damage or commit rape will be guilty of the offence of burglary. Subsection (1)(b) provides for a different type of burglary, where any person having entered any building, part of a building, inhabited vehicle or vessel and then steals or inflicts GBH.

There is also an offence of aggravated burglary under s10 of the 1968 Theft Act. Maximum sentences for s9 offences are 10 years for a non-dwelling and 14 years for a dwelling. s10 offences carry a maximum of life imprisonment. Burglary is triable only on indictment in the UK.

Laws in many jurisdictions impose much harsher penalties for burglaries committed or attempted at night, or upon an occupied residence. Burglary laws in some jurisdictions also encompass certain types of shoplifting.

See also: Jack Sheppard, Charles Peace, Hand of Glory