1. Chapter 12
Burglary

2. 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.

3. Burglary vs. Robbery Burglary
Burglars are covert, seeking to remain unseen
Crime against property
Robbery
Robbers confront their victims directly
Crime against a person

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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Includes withdrawn consent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

7. Possessing Burglary Tools
Elements:
Possessing any device, explosive or instrumentality
With intent to use or permit their use to commit burglary

8. Amateur vs. Professional
Between 15 and 25
Unskilled
Steals radios, TV’s, 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

9. 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

10. Responding to a Burglary Call
Watch for persons fleeing the area
Watch for suspicious-looking persons still at the scene and suspicious automobiles
Don’t use a siren on the way to the scene
Cut flashing lights some distance from the scene
Don’t 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

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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

14. Methods of Entering Safes and Vaults
Punching
Peeling
Chopping
Pulling
Blowing
Burning
Hauling away

15. Physical Evidence Fingerprints Footprints Tire prints Tools Tool marks
Broken glass
Safe insulation
Paint chips
Personal possessions

16. Modus Operandi Factors
Time
Type of victim
Type of premises
Point and means of entry
Type of property taken
Any peculiarities of the offense

17. Receiving Stolen Goods
Elements:
Receiving, buying, or concealing stolen or illegally obtained goods
Knowing them to be stolen or otherwise illegally obtained

18. 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