Legal Definitions - burglary tool

A burglary tool refers to any implement, device, or object specifically designed, modified, or commonly used to facilitate unauthorized entry into a building, vehicle, or other secure enclosure, with the intent to commit a crime inside. While many everyday items can potentially be used in a burglary, the legal definition typically focuses on the possessor's intent to use the item for such a purpose. In many legal systems, it is a criminal offense to possess such a tool if there is clear intent to use it to commit a burglary.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of a burglary tool:

• Example 1: A suspect is apprehended outside a closed electronics store at 3 AM, carrying a large bolt cutter and a heavy-duty pry bar in a backpack. The store's back door shows fresh signs of tampering.

  Explanation: The bolt cutter and pry bar are classic examples of burglary tools because they are commonly used for forced entry. Their possession in this specific context, combined with the time and location and evidence of tampering, strongly indicates an intent to use them to commit a burglary.

• Example 2: Police stop a person acting suspiciously near a row of parked cars in a dark alley. The person is found to have a "slim jim" (a tool used to unlock car doors without a key) and a powerful flashlight, despite not owning any of the nearby vehicles or having a legitimate reason to be there.

  Explanation: While a slim jim might be used legitimately by a locksmith, its possession by someone without a valid reason, combined with suspicious behavior in an area with parked cars, suggests an intent to use it as a burglary tool to unlawfully enter vehicles.

• Example 3: During a routine traffic stop, officers discover a backpack in the vehicle containing a specialized lock-picking set, a small glass cutter, and a pair of dark gloves. The driver has a history of commercial burglaries and cannot provide a plausible explanation for possessing these items.

  Explanation: The lock-picking set and glass cutter are highly specialized tools primarily designed for gaining unauthorized entry without causing significant damage. Coupled with the driver's history and lack of a legitimate explanation, these items are clearly identifiable as burglary tools, indicating an intent to use them for illegal entry.