Bucks County Burglary and Robbery Lawyer
Have you been charged with burglary or robbery? At the Bucks County law offices of Attorney Niels C. Eriksen, we protect the rights of individuals charged with burglary, trespass, and robbery in the state and federal courts of Pennsylvania. From defiant trespassing to criminal mischief, we will weigh all mitigating and aggravating factors as we help you build the best possible defense.
An Arrest Never Comes at a Convenient Time
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Burglary
Entering the property of another in order to commit any crime while inside is considered burglary. The most important factor in any burglary case is whether or not people were home at the time. If a home was occupied, the consequences could be ten to twenty years in prison as a first degree felony, and it counts as a potential strike conviction. Second degree burglary is entering an unoccupied home of another with the intent to commit a crime, while third degree burglary is for entering an unoccupied business or building.
Garage Hopping: One growing trend is for groups of teens to drive around and steal beer or alcohol found in open garages. This is considered burglary, and as a result, normal decent kids find themselves facing serious felony charges. Mitigation is an important part of defense in these cases.
One of the more significant defenses in Trespass and Burglary cases is Intent. Clients who are permitted by others (friends, girlfriends, relatives, etc) to enter a property, or clients who are granted apparent authority to enter a property often do not have the intent to commit a crime at the time of entering. An aggressive defense begins with establishing the authority to be present in a Trespass or Burglary case.
Robbery
Theft by force, however slight, is considered robbery. This could include mugging, purse snatching and pickpocketing. If the crimes is committed with a deadly weapon, uses extreme force, or causes serious bodily harm, it is considered a class one or class two felony. The most important part of any robbery defense is identification. Can the police or witnesses identify the defendant as the actor?
Robbery charges are often accompanies by conspiracy charges. If you were actively involved as a getaway driver or lookout, you could face charges as well.
Related Charges
Burglary and robbery charges never stand on their own. It is our job to remove as many charges as possible. In most cases, they are accompanied by one of the following:
- Theft
- Receiving stolen property
- Trespass
- Criminal mischief
- Possession of instrument of crime
Contact Us
Burglary and robbery crimes vary greatly in nature. Taking a closer look at your case, we can help you build the right defense. While our Bucks County law offices are open during weekly business hours, we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ready to make jail visits and attend bail hearings. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.
