The Law Dictionary

Your Free Online Legal Dictionary • Featuring Black’s Law Dictionary, 2nd Ed.

BURGLARY Definition & Legal Meaning

Definition & Citations:

In criminal law. The breaking and entering the house of another in the night-time, with intent to commit a felony therein, whether the felony be actually committed or not. Anderson v. State, 48 Ala. 606, 17 Am. Rep. 36; Benson v. McMahon, 127 U. S. 457, 8 Sup. Ct. 1240, 32 L. Ed. 234; Hunter v. State, 29 Ind. 80; State v. Pettit, 32 Wash. 129, 72 Pac. 1021; State v. Langford, 12 N. C. 253; State v. McCall, 4 Ala. G44, 39 Am. Dec. 314; State v. Wilson, 1 N. J. Law, 439, 1 Am. Dec. 216; Com. v. Newell, 7 Mass. 245. The common-law definition has been much modified by statute in several of the states. For example: “Every person who enters any house, room, apartment, tenement, shop, warehouse, store, mill, barn, stable, outhouse, or other building, tent, vessel, or railroad car, with intent to commit grand or petit larceny, or any felony, is guilty of burglary.” Pen. Code Cal.

Disclaimer

This article contains general legal information but does not constitute professional legal advice for your particular situation. The Law Dictionary is not a law firm, and this page does not create an attorney-client or legal adviser relationship. If you have specific questions, please consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.