We hear about armed robberies, but then why don't we hear about armed burglaries? Burglaries involve more like invading someone's home?

knud77

If a burglar is armed, it elevates the crime to a robbery. Jul 28 10, 9:53 PM

star_gazer

A burglary is a theft without the use, or threat, of violence. If you have been accused of robbery you may be subject to more serious consequences. A robbery is the act of, or attempt to, take something that does not belong to you from someone else. The difference between a robbery and a burglary is that during a robbery the perpetrator may try to use some sort of threat or force to coerce submission. Most bank thefts and muggings fall into the category of "robbery." http://ezinearticles.com/?Burglary-Vs-Robbery---Understanding-the-Difference&id=2823707 Jul 28 10, 9:56 PM

davejacobs

From the same article as star-gazer quotes, it seems there are two varieties of theft here; entering premises or not, using violence or not. So there are four combinations. Of these, three seem to constitute robbery, and only simple theft by breaking in is burglary, the others are robbery. Although I'm not really sure about theft out of doors without violence. That's probably got another term. Jul 29 10, 1:11 AM

abechstein

Sorry in advance for no links -- this is based on professional experience, and it would be hard to link to websites that would cover the content of this answer, anyway. Some simplified definitions to begin, based on Georgia law: Theft: taking property that isn't yours with the intent to appropriate it to your own use Robbery: taking property that isn't yours from the immediate presence of another through force, intimidation, or by sudden snatching Armed robbery: taking property that isn't yours from the immediate presence of another through use of an offensive weapon or replica Burglary: entering someone else's building without authority and with the intent to commit a theft or felony therein So, to answer the question, you don't hear about "armed burglary" because it's irrelevant to the commission of a burglary whether the burglar is armed. The prohibited act of burglary concerns the illegal entry onto property, not an illegal taking of property; burglary is a property crime, while robbery is a theft crime. Here's a quick fact pattern to illustrate the differences. Bob has a small pocket knife in his pocket, and is walking down the street. He sees a merchant put out a package for the postman to pick up, and takes it for himself when the shopkeeper goes back into her store. That's theft. Now assume that Bob's shopping in the store, and he sees the same shopkeeper counting out her till. When the shopkeeper goes into the back to answer the phone, he sees the opportunity to grab some money, and does so. That's still theft. Why? It's not burglary, because Bob entered the store with implied permission -- stores want people to come in to shop, so Bob's original entry was "legal". It's not robbery, because there was no property taken from the immediate presence of another, and there was no force, intimidation, or weapon used to accomplish the taking. Now assume that Bob walks up to the storekeeper, says "Give me that money or I'll beat you," and takes the money. That's robbery (use of intimidation/threat of force to take property from the immediate presence of the shopkeeper). Same facts, but Bob takes his knife out and points it toward the shopkeeper. That's armed robbery -- robbery with an offensive weapon. Finally, let's assume that Bob, while watching the shopkeeper count her money, fixes the door latch so that it doesn't close all the way, and leaves. He comes back that night, and sees that the storekeeper didn't notice the broken door. He opens the door, walks into the store, and takes the money. That's burglary (entering the store without permission to take the money) and theft (taking the money). Jul 30 10, 1:56 PM