Philadelphia Burglary Lawyer

Burglary Charges in Philadelphia

In Pennsylvania, burglary is simply defined as entering a building with the intent to commit a crime.

• If the building was open to the public at the time or you had permission to be in it, these are possible defenses.
• You do not have to break into the building to be charged with burglary.
• Burglary does not have to be committed at night – you can be charged no matter what time you entered the building.
• It is a defense if you were in a building that was abandoned.
• Burglary is a crime against property, not people.

Burglary is a felony of the first degree, and if convicted you can face up to 20 years in prison. A burglary lawyer Philadelphia can help if the building you were found in is not equipped as a place where you can overnight and if there was no one in the building when you entered, it is a felony of the second degree.

You can’t be found guilty for both burglary and other offenses you intended to commit when you entered the building unless the additional defense is a felony of the first or second degree.

Burglary Lawyer in Pennsylvania

Burglary is described and defined under The Pennsylvania Criminal Code under Title 18, Chapter 33.

Conspiracy To Commit Burglary

In Pennsylvania, a conspiracy to commit a burglary offense occurs when two or more people agree and plan a burglary or attempt to commit a burglary or solicit someone else to commit a burglary.

Your association with the conspiracy is an important element.

In Pennsylvania, even if you just played a small role in a criminal conspiracy, if you are convicted you will be sentenced to the same grade of felony as the crime that was committed.

So if you helped friends in planning or carrying out a burglary, even if you were waiting outside as a lookout and not the one who actually broke into the store, as long as you were in on the conspiracy if the main perpetrator is burglary charges you will be too.

What To Do If You Are Charged with Burglary

If you are charged with burglary, do not anger the arresting officer unnecessarily.

You will probably be held in jail overnight. At this stage, do not discuss what happened with the police or claim your innocence.

• As with most criminal charges, you should not talk to the police or prosecutors without your burglary lawyer Philadelphia by your side. What you say can be taken out of context and used against you.

If the police question you, tell them you want a burglary lawyer in Philadelphia and politely refuse to answer their questions.

What Your Burglary Attorney Can Do

Your burglary attorney will carefully review every aspect of your case to determine if there is evidence for all you have been accused of.

• Your burglary attorney will make every effort to discredit any evidence not in your favor.
• Much of what your lawyer can do to help you will depend on the exact circumstances of your case.
• You may not have entered the building to commit a crime. If so, your lawyer will gather the evidence or witnesses to prove it.
• The building you entered may have been abandoned. If it was, your burglary attorney will gather the evidence or witnesses to prove it.

Your burglary lawyer Philadelphia will be looking at every avenue that can help you, so it’s important that you give them all of the information that can support your case.

How a Criminal Defense Attorney in PA Will Help when You Are Up against burglary charges, even before your first hearing you will be facing a determined prosecutor. You need a burglary attorney who will stand by you every step of the way, work hard to discredit any evidence – and work with you to determine your best course of action.