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Burglary

Burglary involves unlawful entry into a structure with intent to commit a crime inside; forced entry and an actual theft are not always required.

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Burglary Centers On Entry And Intent

By Crime Fixer Last Updated July 9, 2026

Burglary generally involves unlawful entry into a structure with intent to commit a felony or theft inside. An unlocked door, copied key, retained code, or other entry without force can still qualify.

A burglary can be attempted even when the person never gets inside. It can also involve a crime other than theft, including assault, stalking, or vandalism. State laws define which structures and intended offenses qualify.

Sources: FBI UCR: BurglaryFBI NIBRS: 2025 Offense Definitions

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How Burglars Learn A Property

A burglary may be opportunistic or planned. Relevant activity can include door checking, repeated drive-bys, false deliveries, questions about occupancy, disabled cameras, stolen keys, public travel posts, or someone using knowledge gained through work, tenancy, relationships, or prior access.

The route matters: the approach, point of entry, rooms entered, property targeted, exit point, staging area, vehicle, and direction of travel can show planning and connect multiple incidents.

Sources: FBI UCR: BurglaryBJS: Victimization During Household Burglary

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Signs Of Entry And Preparation

Do not assume the visible broken window is the only entry point or that the person who discovered the damage was the first person at the scene.

  • Damaged locks, doors, windows, screens, gates, vents, roofs, garages, or interior access points.
  • Moved cameras, cut wires, covered lenses, disabled alarms, missing keys, new access-code activity, or open doors with no obvious damage.
  • Footprints, fingerprints, tools, gloves, packaging, dropped property, cigarette material, blood, or items moved from their normal location.
  • Casing behavior, vehicles waiting nearby, public posts revealing absence, or repeat activity at neighboring properties.

Sources: FBI UCR: BurglaryBJS: Victimization During Household Burglary

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Records That Reconstruct The Break-In

The timeline begins when the property was last confirmed secure and ends after the offender leaves. Footage from before and after the entry can be more useful than a camera pointed only inside.

  • Original alarm, access-control, smart-lock, garage, camera, and utility records.
  • Video from neighboring properties, streets, parking areas, businesses, transit routes, and likely approach or exit points.
  • A room-by-room list of disturbed or missing property with serial numbers, photographs, receipts, and ownership records.
  • Names of residents, employees, contractors, former occupants, visitors, and anyone with keys, codes, schedules, or recent knowledge of valuables.
  • Police reports and similar incidents involving the same method of entry, target property, vehicle, clothing, or route.

Sources: FBI UCR: BurglaryBJS: Victimization During Household Burglary

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What Not To Do At A Burglary Scene

  • Do not enter if the offender may still be inside. Move away and call 911.
  • Do not clean, repair, rearrange, or handle likely entry points and items before police document the scene when a response is expected.
  • Do not assume a lack of broken glass means no burglary occurred; entry without force is common in the legal definition.
  • Do not post every missing item, camera angle, or investigative detail publicly before preserving and reporting it.

Sources: FBI UCR: Burglary

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What Happens After A Burglary

Police may document entry, collect available evidence, identify stolen property, obtain footage, compare nearby incidents, and route the case for follow-up. Insurance and repairs should use the same accurate property and damage record.

  1. Call 911 if entry may be in progress or anyone may still be inside; otherwise use the local reporting method.
  2. Wait outside, preserve the scene, and identify cameras and time-sensitive records for responding officers.
  3. Create the property and damage inventory, then provide serial numbers and ownership records as they are located.
  4. Repair access points after documentation and preserve invoices, replacement costs, report numbers, and any new footage or listings.

Sources: FBI UCR: BurglaryBJS: Victimization During Household Burglary

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Questions People Ask About Burglary

Can burglary occur without forced entry?

Yes. The FBI UCR definition includes unlawful entry where no force is used. An unlocked door, copied key, retained code, or other unauthorized access can still matter.

What if nothing was stolen?

Burglary may still be attempted or completed if the unlawful entry was made with intent to commit a qualifying crime inside. Report the entry and preserve evidence of what occurred.

Should I walk through the property to see what is missing?

Not if the offender may still be present or police are responding to process the scene. Stay outside, call police, and follow their instructions before entering or touching anything.

Which camera footage should I request?

Request footage covering the approach, point of entry, neighboring routes, parking areas, likely vehicle locations, and departure - including time before and after the known window.

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