Words / B2

BURGL-uh-ree/ˈbɜːɡləri/

Burglary is breaking into a building to steal. Burglar is the person. Robbery is theft with force against a person; theft is wider. Do not call shoplifting burglary. Street lighting and burglary on an estate.

Meaning

The crime of entering a building illegally in order to steal.

Examples

• “Burglary rose on the estate after the street lights failed.”
• “The charge was burglary, not robbery, because nobody was threatened in the street.”

Good to know

a burglary; burglary of a dwelling. Person: burglar. Related: theft / robbery (different). Not shoplifting. Crime stats. Verb often: burgle (UK).

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