So what’s the difference between burglary and robbery? There are nuances in how different states lay out their burglar laws. You’ll find that in some, a court may charge an intruder with burglary for breaking in with the intent to commit any kind of crime. If someone breaks into your home and takes you hostage, they can be charged with burglary as well as kidnapping in some courts. If someone breaks into your home and sets fire to it, that’s both burglary and arson. If someone threatens or hurts you while stealing your stuff, then that’s a robbery. If your kid talks you into handing over $20 so they can go out with friends, that isn’t robbery. No one used force or made threats (even if you feel like you’ve been robbed). If the robber threatens you with a fake weapon (think a realistic-looking water gun), that’s still armed robbery. If the robber isn’t carrying a weapon but acts as if they are, that can also be armed robbery. The extortionist uses their threat of choice to bully their victim into giving up money or valuables. Similarly, when someone steals something highly valuable, that’s grand theft. Also, the stealing of some types of property is automatically grand theft. This will vary based on state, but someone usually commits a grand theft if they steal any of the following:
Farm animals Firearms Automobiles7
So even if your car is from 1998 and worth less than your insurance payments, if someone steals it, chances are it’s grand theft. (There’s a reason that game is called Grand Theft Auto.) In all sincerity, though, in most cases, theft is a serious crime. Victims of burglary aren’t wronged any less than victims of robbery are. We want you to know the terminology so you can communicate what happened to the police, not because the crime committed against you is less damaging than another. We’re experts in burglary protection. We know all the best cameras, security lights, and door locks to keep you safe. We also have a roundup of our favorite security systems if you want to invest in something a little more intense. It’s harder to protect against robbery since it can happen any time, anywhere, not just in your home. And general life safety is a little outside of our wheelhouse. But we will say that you should pay attention to the crime rates in your area so you know what kind of measures you might need to take. If you decide to arm yourself, even just with pepper spray, check the laws where you live. You don’t want to accidentally commit a crime when trying to prevent crime. Generally, a penalty is higher if violence was involved or if the item of something that was stolen is considered valuable such as a car or expensive jewelry.
