Meaning of burglary in English:

nounburglaries

• Illegal entry of a building with intent to commit a crime, especially theft.

  ‘a two-year sentence for burglary’

  count noun ‘a series of burglaries’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Drink is also a significant factor in street crime, burglaries and theft.’
  • ‘Other crimes such as burglaries and thefts from cars had decreased, he added.’
  • ‘He also faces charges of conspiracy to commit burglaries and steal motor vehicles in West Yorkshire.’
  • ‘Police say the problem has a direct impact on pushing up burglaries, robberies and thefts.’
  • ‘The number of burglaries, thefts from cars and violent crimes dropped in the Western Bay.’
  • ‘Arrests were made for a variety of offences including burglary, theft and public order.’
  • ‘Along with stamping out burglaries and thefts, a heavy emphasis is put on personal safety.’
  • ‘An offshoot of these visits can be burglaries and theft of garden equipment and power tools.’
  • ‘These offenders have recently been found guilty of a number of burglaries and car thefts.’
  • ‘Last week, year-on-year figures showed slight rises in street crime and burglaries.’
  • ‘He also pleaded guilty to another two counts of burglary and an attempted burglary.’
  • ‘Police say all the property has been stolen in either burglaries or robberies.’
  • ‘A while ago I found out that they'd caught the guy who committed the burglary on my flat at the end of last year.’
  • ‘The court heard he began committing burglaries at the age of 13 and first targeted churches ten years ago.’
  • ‘But three weeks after his release, he was dealing in heroin and committing burglaries.’
  • ‘The police suspect one man committed the four burglaries on New Year's Day.’
  • ‘The theft of a water company's van has sparked fears it might be used to commit distraction burglaries.’
  • ‘Apart from the burglary figures, crime as a whole was on the decrease, according to Insp Jones.’
  • ‘As a result he will urge that crime prevention is focused on routine crimes such as theft and burglary.’
  • ‘Five months later, she cashed two other benefit books after they were stolen in a burglary.’

  Synonyms

  housebreaking, breaking and entering, breaking in, forced entry, theft, thieving, stealing, robbery, robbing, larceny, thievery, pilfering, pilferage, looting

  break-in, theft, robbery, raid, hold-up

  View synonyms

In English law before 1968, burglary was a crime under statute and in common law; since 1968 it has been a statutory crime only. See also and housebreaking