furnessvale
Established Member
- Joined
- 14 Jul 2015
- Messages
- 4,897
In English law theft and burglary are two completely different offences. Shoplifting, a popular term of course, does not exist in law, but can be construed as theft. Burglary would involve either breaking into a premises or otherwise gaining unauthorised access, through an open window for instance, and is generally regarded as a more serious offence, though after the Hatton Garden sentences one wonders.
Burglary is defined as entering a building "as a trespasser" with intent to commit certain offences, or having entered a building "as a trespasser" then committing certain offences.
There is certainly no requirement to break in or even climb in through a window etc. There is even no need to actually enter in person. Sending in a trained monkey or using a fishing rod through an opening will suffice.
If a person has been banned from premises and he enters without permission he is a trespasser. Therefore if he has the required intent on entering, or commits one of the required offences having entered the building he is a burglar.