What is the difference between BURGLARY and ROBBERY?

Answer 1

Here it is in a nut shell:

1. THEFT is taking something that's not yours, but you had permission to be in the place where you took it from. Example. You are an invited guest in another's home and take the money from that persons wallet.

BURGLARY when you enter a place you have no right to be in with the intent to commit a theft, assault, or other felony. Example you enter a business after its closed and take something; you break into a car and steal the stereo; you break into your exgirlfirends house and assault her; etc....

ROBBERY is basically using force or threat of force to commit a theft. Example is holding a store clerk at gun point and demanding the money; shoplifting a music cd from Walmart and having a slugfest with Walmart security when they try to stop you.

Answer 2

Robbery is TAKING property, from the PERSON of another (or from his immediate presence) by means of FORCE OR FEAR. (Note that threatening somebody to gain property which is not on his person or in his presence is extortion, not robbery. Note also that an unlawful entry does not mean that no robbery is committed.)

Burglary is ENTERING a structure, with the INTENT of committing a THEFT or FELONY THEREIN. (Note that no theft or felony need actually occur, the crime is complete upon entry.) Although a "breaking" was required at common law, it is not usually required under modern statutes.

So, under David M's scenarios, walking into a liquor store in order to hold up the cashier is a burglary. Holding up the cashier is a robbery. Entering my house to steal my computer is a burglary. Actually stealing my computer is a theft.

So, RJ is sort of right. polisci major is wrong. xphxpd is pretty close to correct. mattinhoustontx is right, though he doesn't tell you why. David M is only close.

ADD: JJ C is incorrect that burglary has anything to do with whether you are seen, and robbery is always face to face. mr. & mrs. l are sort of right, except that taking from a yard would not usually be a robbery. scorpion is right, though he doesn't tell you why. Janis L is wrong. And Daystar is probably correct in most jurisdictions!

ADD2: Fraginal is wrong--robbery has nothing to do with force applied to structures.

Answer 3

Burglary, also know as breaking and entering or house breaking in different jurisdictions, is entering a residence or commercial building to commit a crime, such as larceny or sexual assault, and robbery is unlawfully taking someones property by the use of force or threat of force. Both crimes are generally a felony. Definitions of crimes differs somewhat depending on the jurisdiction, but there is some commonalities. 1st degree robbery is using a deadly weapon during a robbery, causing bodily injury or, in some jurisdiction, committing a robbery within a financial institute such as a bank. 2nd degree is committing a robbery without a deadly weapon or causing injury. 1st degree burglary involves a residence or the use of a deadly weapon during the burglary and 2nd degree is a burglary of a commercial property and not using a deadly weapon.

Answer 4

a burglary is when some ones home or business is broken into.

A robbery is when a person is being held up by either an gun or a knife and if someone gets hit over the head it's called a mugging.

Answer 5

RJ's right. Burglary usually involves a breaking and entering. Robbery is stealing by force or threat of force, but without an unlawful entry. If you walk into a liquor store and hold up the cashier, that's a robbery. If you break into my house and steal my computer, that's a burglary.

Answer 6

Burglary is taking things without the use of force upon things in entering the house. Robbery is using force or destroying an entry into the house to take things.

Answer 7

Robbery is taking something from someone. While burglary is taking something from some place.

Answer 8

5 to 10 years

Answer 9

Burglary they have broken in your house or your car to get the stuff, Robbery they have taken it from you, like a wallet or pocketbook, or from around your home, like something you have in your yard.

Answer 10

Burglary you break in and steal without the owner of the loot seeing you. Example...can take place in a house, car, place of business, etc

Robbery is usually face to face with the owner of the loot...such as robbing a liquor store, or robbing an old lady of her purse.