Defining Theft, Burglary, and Robbery

The terms ‘theft,’ ‘burglary,’ and ‘robbery’ are often used interchangeably, but they are not all the same thing. If you have been charged with a crime, reach out to our criminal defense lawyers serving Manchester, TN today.

If you are charged with a crime in Manchester, TN, it is important that you know the details of the charges against you, including specifically what you are being charged with, what the prosecution will need to prove in order to secure a conviction, and what penalties you may face. At the law offices of Burch, Morrison, and Stewart, we can help you navigate the criminal process, and we will provide you with an aggressive criminal defense.

Defining Theft, Burglary, and Robbery in TN

Per the law in Tennessee, the crimes of theft, burglary, and robbery are defined in the following way:

Theft of property (Tennessee Code Section 39-14-103). An act of theft is committed when a person knowingly obtains or exercises control over the property of another without the owner’s consent and does so with the specific intent of depriving the owner of the property.
Burglary (Tennessee Code Section 39-14-402). A person commits burglary when, without the consent of the property owner, the person enters a building with the intent to commit a felony, an assault, or an act of theft, or remains concealed within the building with the same intent, or enters any motor vehicle, freight car, boat, airplane, or other vehicle with the intent to commit a crime.
Robbery (Tennessee Code Section 39-13-401). Robbery is defined as committing an act of theft while also committing an act of violence or putting the victim in fear.

Penalties for Theft, Burglary, and Robbery

The penalties for theft, burglary, and robbery are as different as their definitions.

The penalties for theft and how theft is classified (or graded) is based on the amount of property that is involved in the crime. For example, an act of theft involving $1,000 or less is a class A misdemeanor, whereas an act of theft involving property or assets valued at more than $250,000 is a Class A felony.

Burglary is a Class D felony (although it can be a Class E felony under certain parts of the statute).

Robbery is a Class C felony.

Class C felonies are punished by between three and 20 years in prison and potentially a fine of up to $10,000; Class D felonies are punished by between two and 12 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,00; and Class A felonies are punished by between 15 and 60 years in prison, as well as a potential fine of up to $50,000. Misdemeanor offenses are less harshly punished.

Call a Criminal Defense Attorney Today

If you have been charged with one of the crimes above, or any other crime, you need an experienced criminal defense lawyer on your side. At the offices of Burch, Morrison, & Stewart, our experienced Manchester criminal defense lawyerscan help you. Reach us today by phone or online to get started.