Wichita Bail Bonds Blog

The difference between burglary and grand theft comes down to the type of crime being committed and what the person intended to do. Burglary involves unlawfully entering a building or structure with the intent to commit a crime inside, while grand theft focuses on the act of stealing property worth a significant amount. In other words, burglary is about unlawful entry, and grand theft is about the value of what’s stolen.

Definition Of Burglary

Burglary occurs when someone enters or remains in a building, home, or vehicle without permission and with the intent to commit a felony, theft, or other serious crime inside. The crime does not require that anything be stolen, just that the person entered with criminal intent. For example, breaking into a store after hours, intending to steal money or goods, is burglary, even if nothing is actually taken.

Definition Of Grand Theft

Grand theft, sometimes called felony theft, is the unlawful taking of property that exceeds a certain dollar amount. In Kansas and many other states, theft becomes “grand theft” or “felony theft” when the stolen property is worth more than $1,500. The focus is on the value of what was taken, not on how the person gained access to it. Stealing a high-value item from a store, car, or person without breaking into a building can still be grand theft.

Key Differences

• Intent vs. value – Burglary focuses on the intent to commit a crime after entering unlawfully. Grand theft focuses on stealing property of significant value.
• Location – Burglary involves entering a structure, while grand theft can occur anywhere—inside or outside a building.
• Completion of the crime – A person can be charged with burglary even if nothing is stolen, but grand theft requires that property was actually taken.
• Penalties – Burglary is usually a felony, with penalties that increase if a home or occupied building is involved. Grand theft penalties depend on the value of the property and prior convictions.

Examples

• Burglary – A person breaks into a garage intending to steal tools but is caught before taking anything.
• Grand theft – Someone steals a $2,000 laptop from a car that was left unlocked in a parking lot.

Penalties In Kansas

• Burglary – Usually charged as a severity level 7 or 9 felony, punishable by several years in prison and fines.
• Grand theft – Classified as a felony if the stolen property value exceeds $1,500, with penalties ranging from probation to prison time depending on the circumstances.

The main difference between burglary and grand theft is that burglary involves unlawful entry with intent to commit a crime, while grand theft involves stealing valuable property. Burglary can occur even without taking anything, but grand theft requires an actual theft of significant value. Both are serious felonies in Kansas and can result in long-term criminal consequences.