The Differences Between Larceny, Robbery, and Burglary
- Posted on: Jul 25 2023
People often use the terms larceny, robbery, and burglary interchangeably to describe the act of stealing. In Virginia, however, these terms describe distinct crimes. In addition, these crimes each carry separate penalties. In this article, we explain the differences between larceny, robbery, and burglary.
Larceny
There are two types of larceny in Virginia: petty larceny and grand larceny.
Petty larceny: Petty larceny is the taking of property from the person of another that is valued under $5 or the taking of property not from the person of another that is worth under $1,000. Petty larceny in the state of Virginia is a Class 1 misdemeanor and is punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. In addition, the court often orders a person who is convicted of petty larceny to pay restitution to replace what was taken.
Grand larceny: Grand larceny is the taking of property from the person of another that is worth more than $5 or the taking of property not from the person of another that is worth over $1,000. Grand larceny in Virginia is a felony and is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500. In addition, the court often orders a person who is convicted of petty larceny to pay restitution to replace the property that was taken.
Robbery
Robbery is the wrongful taking of someone’s personal property from his or her person or in his or her presence by violence or intimidation. There are four classes of robbery crimes in the state of Virginia. Penalties for these crimes range from a year to life in prison and fines of between $2,500 and $100,000.
Burglary
There are two primary types of burglary in Virginia: common law burglary and statutory burglary.
Common law burglary: Common law burglary occurs when a person enters another person’s home or dwelling at night with the intention of stealing something or committing a felony. Common law burglary is a Class 3 felony and is punishable by between five and 20 years in prison and a fine of $100,000.
Statutory burglary: Statutory burglary in Virginia occurs when an individual enters another person’s home or dwelling without breaking at night, breaks and enters into another’s home during the daytime, enters and conceals his or herself in another’s home, or enters with or without breaking and conceals his or herself in another’s home. The punishment for statutory burglary depends on the person’s intention upon entering the home. Statutory burglary committed with the intention to also commit arson, robbery, or rape is punishable by between five and twenty years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. And statutory burglary committed with the intention to commit battery, assault, larceny, or any other felony other than murder is punishable by between one and 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500.
Hire a Virginia Criminal Defense Attorney
If you are facing larceny, robbery, or burglary charges in the state of Virginia, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side. At Walker Jones, PC, our criminal defense attorneys will review the facts of your case and mount an aggressive defense on your behalf. Please contact us as soon as possible to arrange a free consultation with one of our knowledgeable lawyers.
