MASSACHUSETTS BURGLARY DEFENSE ATTORNEYS
DEFEND CLIENTS CHARGED WITH BURGLARY IN MASSACHUSETTS
Entering a home, dwelling, business, vehicle or edifice without permission with the intent to commit a crime is burglary. There does not need to be a physical breaking and entering to be charged with burglary. The penalties for burglary in Massachusetts are severe. Don't take a chance with your defense if you are accused of burglary in Massachusetts. Our criminal defense attorneys in Massachusetts, regularly defend clients charged with burglary. The SRIS, P.C. Massachusetts burglary defense attorneys have an office in the City of Boston, Massachusetts. To minimize the stress our client experiences, our firm policy is to do our best to return your calls within eight hours of you calling us. For more information or to make an appointment with SRIS, P.C., please call, send an e-mail or complete the on-line form.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS OFFICE:
101 Federal Street, Suite 1900
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Phone: 888-437-7747
To learn more about the laws pertaining to burglary defense in Virginia or Maryland, please click on the state.
BURGLARY LAWS IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS
Below are some of the different types of the burglary laws in the State of Massachusetts:
Section 14. Burglary; armed; assault on occupants; weapons; punishment (top)
Section 14. Whoever breaks and enters a dwelling house in the night time, with intent to commit a felony, or whoever, after having entered with such intent, breaks such dwelling house in the night time, any person being then lawfully therein, and the offender being armed with a dangerous weapon at the time of such breaking or entry, or so arming himself in such house, or making an actual assault on a person lawfully therein, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any term of not less than ten years.
Whoever commits any offense described in this section while armed with a firearm, rifle, shotgun, machine gun or assault weapon shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any term of years, but not less than 15 years. Whoever commits a subsequent such offense shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any term of years, but not less than 20 years. The sentence imposed upon a person who, after being convicted of any offense mentioned in this section, commits the like offense, or any other of the offenses therein mentioned, shall not be suspended, nor shall he be placed on probation.
Section 15. Burglary; unarmed (top)
Section 15. Whoever breaks and enters a dwelling house in the night time, with the intent mentioned in the preceding section, or, having entered with such intent, breaks such dwelling house in the night time, the offender not being armed, nor arming himself in such house, with a dangerous weapon, nor making an assault upon a person lawfully therein, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than twenty years and, if he shall have been previously convicted of any crime named in this or the preceding section, for not less than five years.
Section 16. Breaking and entering at night (top)
Section 16. Whoever, in the night time, breaks and enters a building, ship, vessel or vehicle, with intent to commit a felony, or who attempts to or does break, burn, blow up or otherwise injures or destroys a safe, vault or other depository of money, bonds or other valuables in any building, vehicle or place, with intent to commit a larceny or felony, whether he succeeds or fails in the perpetration of such larceny or felony, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than twenty years or in a jail or house of correction for not more than two and one-half years.
Section 16A. Building, vessel or vehicle; breaking and entering with intent to commit misdemeanor (top)
Section 16A. Whoever in the nighttime or daytime breaks and enters a building, ship, vessel or vehicle with intent to commit a misdemeanor shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.
Section 17. Entering without breaking at night; breaking and entering in day time; weapons; punishment (top)
Section 17. Whoever, in the night time, enters without breaking, or breaks and enters in the day time, a building, ship, vessel, or vehicle, with intent to commit a felony, the owner or any other person lawfully therein being put in fear, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than ten years. Whoever commits any offense described in this section while armed with a firearm, rifle, shotgun, machine gun or assault weapon shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than five years or in the house of correction for not more than two and one-half years.
Section 18. Dwelling house; entry at night; breaking and entering in day time; weapons; punishment (top)
Section 18. Whoever, in the night time, enters a dwelling house without breaking, or breaks and enters in the day time a building, ship or motor vehicle or vessel, with intent to commit a felony, no person lawfully therein being put in fear, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than ten years or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars and imprisonment in jail for not more than two years. Whoever commits any offense described in this section while armed with a firearm, rifle, shotgun, machine gun or assault weapon shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than five years or by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than two and one-half years.
Section 19. Railroad car; breaking and entering (top)
Section 19. Whoever breaks and enters, or enters in the night time without breaking, a railroad car, with intent to commit a felony, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than ten years or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars and imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than two years.
Section 20A. Breaking and entering of trucks, tractors, trailers or freight containers (top)
Section 20A. Whoever breaks and enters, or enters without breaking, a truck, tractor/trailer unit, trailer, semi-trailer or freight container with intent to commit a felony, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than ten years or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars and imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than two years.
Section 49. Burglarious instruments; making; possession; use (top)
Section 49. Whoever makes or mends, or begins to make or mend, or knowingly has in his possession, an engine, machine, tool or implement adapted and designed for cutting through, forcing or breaking open a building, room, vault, safe or other depository, in order to steal therefrom money or other property, or to commit any other crime, knowing the same to be adapted and designed for the purpose aforesaid, with intent to use or employ or allow the same to be used or employed for such purpose, or whoever knowingly has in his possession a master key designed to fit more than one motor vehicle, with intent to use or employ the same to steal a motor vehicle or other property therefrom, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than ten years or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars and imprisonment in jail for not more than two and one half years.
