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bur·glary /'bər-glə-rē/ n pl -glar·ies [Anglo-French burglarie, modification of Medieval Latin burgaria, from burgare to break into (a house)]: the act of breaking and entering an inhabited structure (as a house) esp. at night with intent to commit a felony (as murder or larceny); also: the act of entering or remaining unlawfully (as after closing to the public) in a building with intent to commit a crime (as a felony)◇ The crime of burglary was originally defined under the common law to protect people, since there were other laws (as those defining larceny and trespass) that protected property. State laws have broadened the common-law crime. Entering at night is often no longer required and may be considered an aggravating factor. The building may be something other than a dwelling, such as a store or pharmacy. Some states (as Louisiana) have included vehicles under their burglary statute. There are degrees of burglary, and some of the usual aggravating factors are the presence of people and use of a deadly weapon.bur·glar·i·ous /ˌbər-'glar-ē-əs/ adj
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.
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I
noun
breaking and entering, crime, effractura, felony, filching, forcible entry, furtum, housebreaking, illegality, larceny, lawlessness, looting, marauding, pilfering, pillaging, plunderage, plundering, prowling, purloinment, raiding, robbery, robbing, spoiling, stealing, theft, thievery, unlawful act, unlawful breaking and entering, unlawfulness
associated concepts: burglar's tools, burglary insurance, common law burglary, receiving stolen goods, robbery, statutory burglary
II
index
housebreaking, theft
Burton's Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006
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n.Under common law, breaking into and entering a dwelling at night intending to commit a felony once inside; under modern statutes, the definition has expanded to include all buildings, not just dwellings, and to require that the actor must merely enter the building instead of breaking into it, and must intend to commit any crime, not just a felony; the crime involved is usually theft.
The Essential Law Dictionary. — Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell. 2008.
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in English criminal law, the crime of entering any building or part of a building or inhabited vehicle or vessel as a trespasser with the intent to steal or rape or commit grievous bodily harm or doing unlawful damage. It is still burglary if, having entered as a trespasser, the accused attempts to steal or inflict personal injury. It is an aggravation to carry additional weapons, particularly firearms, whether real or artificial, or explosives. For Scotland, See housebreaking.
Collins dictionary of law. W. J. Stewart. 2001.
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The crime of entering a building with the intent to commit a crime. Old definitions required that the entering be accompanied by a "breaking," by forcing one's way in or by any pnysical act that allows entry; and that the crime intended be a felony. Modern statutes are less restrictive. For instance, someone would be guilty of burglary if he entered a house through an unlocked door in order to commit a murder (a felony) or to steal a bicycle (probably a misdemeanor). (See also: felony, misdemeanor)Category: Criminal LawCategory: Small Claims Court & Lawsuits
Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. Gerald N. Hill, Kathleen Thompson Hill. 2009.
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1 n. The common-law offense of forcibly entering a dwelling at night to commit a felony therein.2 v. Under many modern statutes, the act of breaking and entering into any building at any time with the intent to commit a felony (or, in some states, a felony or petit larceny and, in other states, any crime) therein.
Webster's New World Law Dictionary. Susan Ellis Wild. 2000.
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The criminal offense of breaking and entering a building illegally for the purpose of committing a crime.
Dictionary from West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005.
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The criminal offense of breaking and entering a building illegally for the purpose of committing a crime.II The act of illegal entry with the intent to steal.
Short Dictionary of (mostly American) Legal Terms and Abbreviations.
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n.the crime of breaking and entering into a structure for the purpose of committing a crime. No great force is needed (pushing open a door or slipping through an open window is sufficient) if the entry is unauthorized. Contrary to common belief, a burglary is not necessarily for theft. It can apply to any crime, such as assault or sexual harassment, whether the intended criminal act is committed or not. Originally under English common law burglary was limited to entry in residences at night, but it has been expanded to all criminal entries into any building, or even into a vehicle.See also: breaking and entering
Law dictionary. EdwART. 2013.
