Burglary vs robbery, which is the lesser of the two evils? According to Office for National Statistics, there were 266283 number of burglary cases and 66282 number of robbery cases in the UK and Wales. Burglary is defined as entering a building with intent to commit an offence.
Robbery, on the other hand, is taking or attempting to take anything from another person by force or threat of violence. It seems like burglary would be less offensive because it doesn’t involve any actual violence. Wrong! We will explore how this crime can lead to more serious charges and why you should avoid it at all costs.
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What is Burglary?
Breaking into a building or other structure with the purpose to commit a crime is called a burglary. It depends on stealth or cunning to obtain unlawful entry to the property rather than necessarily using force or violence. For instance, it would be deemed a burglary if someone broke a window to enter a home and take valuables. Burglaries can often include additional offenses like vandalism or property damage.
What is Robbery?
Robbery, on the other hand, is the act of taking anything, generally something valuable, from another person through force or the threat of force. It is a theft offence that incorporates the use of violence or intimidation. For example, if someone held up a bank with a pistol and demanded money, that would be termed robbery.
Why Burglary Leads to More Serious Charges?
Although these crimes are less serious offences when compared to other types of violence such as assault or homicide, they can lead to more serious charges such as aggravated trespass or affray. This is because the victim of burglary will often confront the offender, meaning that it can quickly turn into a physical altercation even if no violence was initially involved.
Why Robbery Leads to More Serious Charges?
It’s true that both burglary and robbery are theft related crimes, but robbery doesn’t require you to enter the building. For example, if somebody were to confront you in a public place and demand your wallet at knifepoint or point a gun at you then this would be classed as robbery because they are using force.
What Are the Penalties for Burglary?
The penalties for this crime depend on the level of violence involved and whether or not there is any damage to property. For example, if an offender has no previous convictions then they could face up to six months in prison or a fine of £5000 whereas more serious offences can result in custodial sentences ranging from two years to life imprisonment.
What Are the Penalties for Robbery?
Theft offences can lead to serious consequences such as a criminal record which will affect the robber’s chances of employment and more importantly their freedom. For example, if any robber is found guilty of robbery then this could result in a custodial sentence ranging from two years to life imprisonment. In addition to this there may also be fines and compensation that need to be paid by the offender which depend on the value of goods stolen or damaged during the crime.
How to Protect Yourself from Burglary?
It is important that you secure your property as much as possible to protect yourself from these types of crimes. For example, if a window or door lock does not have a secondary security mechanism such as an alarm then it should be replaced immediately by a locksmith in order to avoid being burgled. Burglars will often look for opportunities so denying them access will make it less likely for them to break into your property.
The best way to secure your home is through installing burglar alarm system that can be set to activate when somebody tries to break into your property. For example, if the alarm system is connected to a monitoring service then they will contact the police in order to help you avoid being burgled.
If you suspect that somebody may be trying to get in through a window or door then do not confront the burglar but instead call 999 immediately and ask the police to attend your location as soon as possible because this could lead to violence which is why these crimes are treated so seriously.
How to Protect Yourself from Getting Robbed?
There are several things that you can do to protect yourself from this type of crime. For example, if somebody approaches you and demands your wallet or phone at knifepoint then give them what they want because it will be a lot less painful than being stabbed with a knife.
In addition to this, try not to let anybody follow you home as this could lead to the offender demanding money once inside which is why disguising where you live by using an online address generator should help prevent people following you home.
If you get an opportunity, immediately call the police and report the robbery as soon as possible because this can help you avoid further trouble.
Finally, make sure all windows and doors have secondary security measures such as alarms in order keep burglars out who may otherwise rob your property while nobody else is there which would leave no witnesses behind when it comes time for police investigation.
What Is the Difference Between Burglary and Robbery?
Both crimes revolve around theft but there are several key differences that make them unique from each other such as:
– Robbery doesn’t require you to enter the building whereas burglary does. This means that someone can still be charged with robbery if they are outside when they demand your wallet or phone at knifepoint.
– Robbery does not necessarily involve stealing items whereas burglary always involves theft because it is a crime of breaking and entering into someone’s home with criminal intent. This means that they can still be charged with robbery even if no property was stolen during the offence which is why this type of crime tends to receive more attention in terms of prosecution.
– Robbery is usually more violent than burglary which means that the offender may use weapons such as knives or firearms to intimidate their victims whereas burglars are unlikely to be armed with these types of items unless they have stolen them from somebody else first. This makes it easier for the police to prove who was involved in a robbery compared with a burglary because they can search their property for any weapons that may have been used in the offence.
– Burglary does not require somebody to be present during the crime whereas robbery
– The penalties for each crime differ in terms of severity and custodial sentences which is why robberies tend to receive more attention from the public.
How to Secure Yourself from Burglary and Robbery Using Smart Devices?
There are many types of smart devices, also known as personal safety alarm to protect yourself from getting robbed or burglary.
One of the most common types is a personal alarm device which will emit an extremely loud noise in order to attract attention when you are in any type of distress. This means that they can also be used as effective deterrents against burglars because it may prevent them from continuing with their offence if they think someone has heard or seen something suspicious which they may view as a sign of somebody coming to investigate.
Another type is the personal panic alarm which works in exactly the same way but it also has an LED light that can act like a beacon when you are in trouble because this is what people will see if they go past your property at night or during out of hours. It means that this type of personal alarm device is great for protecting yourself against burglars because it can help you attract attention if they are outside your house or just inside.
If you’re looking for something that’s easy to carry around with you wherever you go, then there are several types of wearable devices available such as keychains and bracelets which contain loud alarms that can be activated in case of an emergency. They are also designed to look stylish which means that they won’t draw any unwanted attention from people who may otherwise steal them if you leave them lying around on your bedside table or kitchen countertops where anyone can see them.
Another useful accessory is the personal alarm keychain because it emits a loud alarm when you pull the pin out. It’s a great way to protect yourself against an attacker if they are nearby because it can help attract attention from other people who may be passing by which is why this type of personal alarm device proves useful in terms of self-defence as well as home security too.
How to Secure Your Home with Home Security?
Protecting your possessions is an important part of home security because it can help reduce the risk of burglary or robbery.
There are many different types of burglar alarm systems available which work by detecting when somebody has broken into a property through means such as smashing a window, kicking down doors and climbing over fences etc. This type of technology also allows you to monitor your home while you are away which can be very useful if somebody tries to break in when nobody is there.
Home security cameras also help protect people by providing visual evidence that thieves have entered a property during an offence because they can easily record what happens on video footage. This means that the police will have proof of who was involved if they are arrested.
There is also a range of smart devices that can help keep your home safe too such as door and window sensors which detect when somebody has forced their way in or out so you will be able to receive an alert on your mobile phone straight away if this happens. It’s easy to set them up at all entrances including windows and doors because most only require you to use double-sided tape.
There are also devices that can monitor the temperature in your home which will help reduce energy consumption by detecting when somebody has broken into a property through means such as smashing windows or kicking down doors etc. If this happens, then it may trigger an alert on your mobile phone straight away so you can call the police.
FAQs on Burglary vs Robbery
Q: Can a burglar sues homeowner if they get injured?
It’s possible that the burglar may sue if they were injured by a householder. However, this is unlikely to happen and it would be difficult for them to win their case because householders are entitled to protect themselves from intruders using reasonable force.
Q: What are some examples of burglary?
For example, an offender enters your house with the intent to steal property or commit criminal damage. They enter through an unlocked door, open a window with the intention of gaining entry and it’s also possible for them to gain access by climbing up pipes or ladders that are attached to your house.
Q: Can burglary be classed as trespassing?
Yes! A person can face trespass charges if they enter a building as a trespasser and it’s likely that such offences will be classed as burglary. For example, if there is no sign displayed to show that the property or land belongs to somebody else then this could lead to criminal damage charges.
Q: Are there any defences that a householder can use when they face charges of burglary?
In certain instances, it is possible for a householder to claim the right of self-defence. This means they will need to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the intruder tried to attack them or their family and this was necessary in order to protect themselves from harm.
Final Thoughts
We hope that you have learnt the difference between burglary vs robbery and how you can protect yourself and your property from such criminals.
It’s important to make sure you have the right burglar alarm system in place and as well as any other personal security devices because you don’t want to put yourself and your property at risk.
It is always recommended to inform the law enforcement about any suspicious activity going on around the neighborhood because this could help keep everybody safe as well as preventing criminals from carrying out their offences.
As always, it is important to stay vigilant and alert at all times when you are outside your home or in certain areas of town where crime rates may be higher than others such as nighttime streets etc. If something doesn’t feel right then it’s best to avoid these areas if you can.
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