Man Arrested for Burglarizing Homes and Vehicles in West Palm Beach
Sometimes people decide to burglarize one home and quit, while others go on sprees, entering multiple houses over time.
A Florida man has been accused of burglarizing at least six homes and vehicles in West Palm Beach. The man had a criminal history spanning nearly 30 years.
Officers from the West Palm Beach Police Department recognized the 47-year-old man. He was captured on surveillance video during multiple incidents.
The man was arrested on February 27. He is multiple criminal charges, including:
- Burglary of an unoccupied conveyance.
- Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill.
- Two counts of burglary of an occupied dwelling.
- Burglary of an unoccupied dwelling.
- Grand theft, $750 to $5,000.
- Petit theft with two or more prior convictions.
- Failure to appear.
He was not armed during the incidents.
What is Burglary Under Florida Law?
Burglary is defined as entering a dwelling, structure, or conveyance with the intent to commit an offense inside, unless the person is licensed or invited to enter. In simple terms, it means unlawfully going into a building, home, or vehicle while planning to commit a crime there.
To prove burglary, prosecutors generally must show three key elements:
- Entry into a dwelling, structure, or conveyance.
- Lack of permission to enter, or remaining after permission was withdrawn.
- Intent to commit a crime inside at the time of entry.
It is important to understand that the intended crime does not have to be theft. For example, entering a building to commit assault or vandalism may still qualify as burglary.
Florida law classifies burglary into different felony levels depending on the circumstances:
- Burglary of an unoccupied structure or conveyance: This is usually a third-degree felony.
- Burglary of an occupied structure or dwelling: This is typically a second-degree felony.
- Burglary with assault, battery, or a weapon: This is generally a first-degree felony, which carries the most severe penalties.
Also, burglary charges depend heavily on what type of property was entered. Florida law divides burglary targets into three main categories: dwellings, structures, and conveyances.
- A dwelling is a place where people live or intend to live, such as a house, apartment, condo, or mobile home. It includes attached areas like a garage or porch.
- A structure refers to a building that has a roof and is designed to hold people or property but is not used as a residence. Examples include offices, stores, warehouses, and storage buildings.
- A conveyance is any motor vehicle, ship, vessel, railroad car, trailer, aircraft, or sleeping car used to transport people or property.
Contact Us Today
Burglary is a serious crime, even if nobody is inside the structure at the time of the burglary. This crime carries serious penalties.
A Fort Myers burglary attorney from Hollander & Hanuka can provide you with the defense you need. We have extensive experience handling these cases. Call (239) 332-3300 or fill out the online form to schedule a consultation.
Source:
cbs12.com/news/local/man-30-year-criminal-history-burglarized-homes-vehicles-in-west-palm-beach-surveillance-video-west-palm-beach-police-department-florida-news
