Burglary

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Chapter 13

• Burglary

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Burglary Definitions

• The unlawful entry of a structure to commit a
  felony or theft, even though no force was used to
  gain entry Uniform Crime Reports.
• The breaking and entering must be committed
  during the nighttime or between sunset and
  sunrise Common Law definition.

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Burglary vs. Robbery

• Burglary
• Burglars are covert, seeking to remain unseen
• Crime against property

• Robbery
• Robbers confront their victims directly
• Crime against a person

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Classification of Burglaries

• Residential
• Occurs in buildings, structures or attachments
  that are used as or are suitable for dwellings.
• Committed by one or more juveniles or young
  adults who live in the same community.

• Commercial
• Churches, schools, barns, public buildings,
  shops, offices, stores, factories, warehouses,
  stables, ships, and railroad cars.
• Committed by two or more people.
• Buildings are cased.
• Occur at night or on weekends.

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Routine Activity Theory

• Crime results from the simultaneous
• existence of three elements
• The presence of likely or motivated offenders
• The presence of suitable targets
• An absence of guardians to prevent the crime

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Burglary

• Elements
• Entering a structure
• Includes remaining after closing
• Without the consent of the person in possession
• Includes withdrawn consent
• With the intent to commit a crime therein
• Often presumed present

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Possessing Burglary Tools

• Elements
• Possessing any device, explosive or
  instrumentality
• With intent to use or permit their use to commit
  burglary

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Amateur vs. Professional

• Amateur
• Between 15 and 25
• Unskilled
• Steals radios, TVs, cash, and other portable
  property
• Learns through trial and error

• Professional
• 25 to 55
• Steals furs, jewelry, and more valuable items
• Carefully trained by other professional burglars

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Anatomy of a Burglar

• Often a neighbor who lives or works within a two
  mile radius
• Operate on a daily routine and mental image of
  their environment

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Responding to a Burglary Call

• Watch for persons fleeing the area
• Watch for suspicious-looking persons still at the
  scene and suspicious automobiles
• Dont use a siren on the way to the scene
• Cut flashing lights some distance from the scene
• Dont use a spotlight or flashlight
• Park several doors away from the address
• Turn the radio down and close car doors quietly
• Approach the immediate area with a low voice
• Avoid jangling keys or coins

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The Preliminary Investigation of a Residential
Burglary

• Contact the resident(s)
• Establish points and methods of entry/exit
• Collect and preserve evidence
• Determine the type and amount of loss
• Describe the MO
• Check for recent callers
• Canvass the neighborhood for witnesses, evidence,
  discarded stolen articles, etc.

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Preliminary Investigation of a Commercial Burglary

• Contact the owner
• Protect the scene from intrusion by owners, the
  public, and others
• Establish points and methods of entry/exit
• Locate, collect, and preserve evidence
• Narrow the time frame of the crime
• Determine type and amount of loss

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Preliminary Investigation of a Commercial
Burglary Continued

• Determine who closed the establishment, who was
  present at the time of the crime, and who had
  keys
• Describe the M.O.
• Identify friends of employees, maintenance people
  and any possible disgruntled employees or
  customers
• Rule out a faked or staged burglary for insurance
  purposes

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Methods of Entering Safes and Vaults

• Punching
• Peeling
• Chopping
• Pulling
• Blowing
• Burning
• Hauling away

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Physical Evidence

• Fingerprints
• Footprints
• Tire prints
• Tools
• Tool marks
• Broken glass
• Safe insulation
• Paint chips
• Personal possessions

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Modus Operandi Factors

• Time
• Type of victim
• Type of premises
• Point and means of entry
• Type of property taken
• Any peculiarities of the offense

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Receiving Stolen Goods

• Elements
• Receiving, buying, or concealing stolen or
  illegally obtained goods
• Knowing them to be stolen or otherwise illegally
  obtained

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Deterring Burglaries

• Install adequate locks, striker plates, and
  doorframes
• Install adequate indoor and outdoor lighting
• Provide clearly visible addresses
• Install burglarproof sidelight window glass
  beside doors
• Install a burglar alarm

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