Drug addicts routinely commit burglaries with the sole purpose of obtaining cash to purchase more drugs.  The addictive nature of serious drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamines compel drug addicts to disregard the consequences of their criminal behavior.  Drug addicts think nothing of burglarizing your home or business to obtain money for the purchase of drugs.

The following tips are suggested to help you protect your homes, families, and business from burglary.

1.  Lock the doors for your home, business, and automobile.

2.  Do not leave anything of value in plane view.

3.  Consider leaving lights on at night or installing motion sensor lights.

4.  Tell a friend or neighbor when you will be away from your home.

5.  Be proactive to protect your home and your business.

6.  Make regular nightly deposits and leave nothing of value in your business overnight.

7.  Make sure to close and lock your safe.

If you would like to receive more information on how to protect your home or business, contact the Office of the District Attorney or your local Police Department.

A person is guilty of burglary if he enters a building or occupied structure, or separately secured or occupied portion thereof, with intent to commit a crime therein, unless the premises are at the time open to the public or the actor is licensed or privileged to enter.

It is a defense to prosecution for burglary that the building or structure was abandoned.

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), burglary is a felony of the first degree.

(2) If the building, structure or portion entered is not adapted for overnight accommodation and if no individual is present at the time of entry, burglary is a felony of the second degree.

(d) Multiple convictions.--

A person may not be convicted both for burglary and for the offense which it was his intent to commit after the burglarious entry or for an attempt to commit that offense, unless the additional offense constitutes a felony of the first or second degree.