Robbery/Burglary

Burglary and robbery charges carry serious consequences in the state of Louisiana. While both burglary and robbery involve theft, the two charges have significant differences.

Burglary involves the entering or remaining on someone’s property with the intent to commit a felony. Robbery involves directly confronting and taking something of value from another person by threat of force or violence. There are various provisions of each crime with a wide range of penalties.

Simple burglary is one form of burglary. Simple burglary involves the unauthorized entering of any dwelling, vehicle, watercraft, or other structure with the intent to commit a felony inside. The charge of simple burglary can be upgraded to aggravated burglary if the offender is armed with a dangerous weapon or obtains a dangerous weapon once inside and physically harms the victim.

A few specific crimes included under simple burglary include simple burglary of a pharmacy, simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling, unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, and unauthorized entry of a business.

Regardless of the type of burglary, it is not whether or not you actually take something that constitutes committing the crime. A charge of burglary simply requires your intent to commit a crime inside the dwelling, vehicle, watercraft, or other structure.

Robbery charges include armed robbery, first degree robbery, second degree robbery, and simple robbery. Armed robbery involves taking anything of value from another person by use of force or intimidation while armed with a dangerous weapon. When a firearm is used as the dangerous weapon, you can face an additional penalty on top of the typical penalty for armed robbery.

First degree robbery is the taking of anything of value from someone through use of force or intimidation when the offender leads the victim to believe he is armed with a dangerous weapon. Second degree robbery is the same as first degree robbery except the offender also intentionally inflicted seriously bodily injury to the victim. Serious bodily injury involves unconsciousness and/or extreme physical pain. Simple robbery is the taking of anything of value from someone through the use of force or intimidation without the use of a dangerous weapon.

Carjacking and purse snatching are additional forms of robbery. Carjacking involves the intentional taking of a motor vehicle from someone through the use of force of intimidation. Purse snatching is the theft of anything of value contained within a purse or wallet at the time of the theft from someone through use of force or intimidation or by snatching without use of a dangerous weapon.

Robbery and burglary are serious crimes that carry stiff penalties. If you have been arrested for robbery or burglary, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney to assist in your case.

Call the Berg Law Firm today for your free consultation: 318-946-8962.

If you are in the Bossier City/Shreveport area, The Berg Law Firm is able to offer its services to you, in the event that you are in need of legal representation.