Atlanta Police Department Search for Burglars

Reports out of Atlanta show that authorities within the Atlanta Police Department are still searching for suspects involved in a home invasion that resulted in several items being stolen.

According to the victim, he came home to his front door being open and the security alarms going off throughout his house. Unbeknownst to the burglars, the victim's house was set up with different security cameras that captured them on video.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline the offense of burglary in today's post. Burglary encompasses both home invasion as well as the unlawful entry of other types of buildings. Let's take a closer look at the law.

Burglary in Georgia

Burglary in Georgia is defined by the Georgia Code in O.C.G.A. § 16-7-1 as:

First degree burglary is defined by Georgia Law as:

A person commits the offense of burglary in the first degree when, without authority and with the intent to commit a felony or theft therein, he or she enters or remains within an occupied, unoccupied, or vacant dwelling house of another or any building, vehicle, railroad car, watercraft, aircraft, or other such structure designed for use as the dwelling of another. A person who commits the offense of burglary in the first degree shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than 20 years. Upon the second conviction for burglary in the first degree, the defendant shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than two nor more than 20 years. Upon the third and all subsequent convictions for burglary in the first degree, the defendant shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than five nor more than 25 years.

Second degree burglary is defined by Georgia Law as:

A person commits the offense of burglary in the second degree when, without authority and with the intent to commit a felony or theft therein, he or she enters or remains within an occupied, unoccupied, or vacant building, structure, vehicle, railroad car, watercraft, or aircraft. A person who commits the offense of burglary in the second degree shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years. Upon the second and all subsequent convictions for burglary in the second degree, the defendant shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than eight years.

Practice Note

As you can see - either degree of burglary is classified as a serious felony under Georgia Law. However, regardless of how serious the crime is, there are instances in which individuals can be incorrectly accused of committing criminal offenses.

If you or a loved one has been arrested, contact an attorney now. A Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney can help guide you through your case and determine the best plan of action today.