Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Business Law Practice Exam

Breaking and entering a property with intent to commit a crime is known as?

1. Theft

2. Burglary

3. Trespassing

4. Robbery

The correct answer is: Burglary

Burglary is defined as the unlawful entry into a property with the intent to commit a crime inside, typically a felony such as theft. This definition emphasizes the element of intent – the individual not only enters the property without permission but does so with a predetermined purpose to engage in criminal activity. In contrast, theft involves the unlawful taking of someone else's property with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of it, but it does not inherently include the act of breaking and entering. Trespassing refers to entering someone's property without permission but does not necessarily include the intent to commit a crime inside that property. Robbery, on the other hand, involves taking property from a person through force or intimidation, which is a different type of crime altogether. Thus, the focus on entering a property with the specific intent to commit a crime clearly aligns with the legal definition of burglary.