From Merriam-Webster:
Theft: an unlawful taking of property
Robbery: taking of property from a person by violence or threat
Burglary: the entering of a property with the intent to commit a crime
See the difference? A robber takes your wallet from you; a burglar breaks into your home; and they are both thieves if they successfully take something.
Hopefully you won't have to use any of these words in your personal life anytime, but in case you do, at least you'll be using the correct term!
Hey,
ReplyDeleteI think your characterization at the end is wrong.
"A robber takes your wallet from you; a burglar breaks into your home; and they are both thieves if they successfully take something."
Someone who takes your wallet is only a robber if they use "violence or threat," i.e. a mugging. A pickpocket who takes your wallet would not, however, be a robber.
Also, while burglary doesn't require the person to actually take anything (just entering with the intent of taking something) robbery, I believe, does require an actual taking.
So, I think a more accurate way of putting it would be:
Someone who takes your wallet is a thief. Someone who threatens you or threatens you or beats you up to take your wallet is both a thief and a robber. Someone who breaks into your home to try to take your television, whether or not they succeed, is a burglar.
If I can digress for a moment, the fact that burglary doesn't require the person to actually take anything but robbery does creates an interesting situation (I watched a Raising the Bar episode where this came up.) There's a defense called "renunciation" where if you're attempting something and in the middle decide on your own you don't want to do it any more, you can't be charged with the attempt.
In the episode, a guy went into a corner store with the intent of robbing it, but in the middle he decided he didn't want to rob it any more. He couldn't be charged with attempted robbery, because he renounced his intent. He could, however, be charged with burglary because he was a burglar the moment he came in, whether or not he actually took anything. He couldn't renounce the burglary because he'd already committed it.
Sorry for the digression, but I thought you might find that interesting. :)
I have to use all three of these words in my daily life as I am your friendly Public Defender friend.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are clarifying this important issue for the people. It's annoying to me when people say their home was robbed. People are robbed, homes are burgled.
The Hamburglar is only a true burglar if he enters or remains in your home (or car) with the intent to take a hamburger therin. If he takes the hamburger off of your table at McD's, he is a Hamtheif. If he takes the hamburger from your hands by threat or force, he is a Hamrobber.
Glad you liked it, Sara! I was inspired to write it partially because of you!
ReplyDeleteA hamburger has no ham!
ReplyDeleteSara, your definitions are good. Your spelling needs work. therin/theif?
ReplyDelete