RECENT COMMENTS
Two reminders to lock your doors
From the 3000 block of East Marshall Street:
One of my next door neighbors told me yesterday that one recent night someone opened their front door and walked in. They were in another room and did not see who it was, since the dogs scared whoever it was off. It could have been a mistake, but it seems odd so I wanted to get something out.
— ∮∮∮ —
From the 2100 block of Broad Street:
Someone entered my home between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. last Sunday. I was grilling in the back yard until about 10 p.m. Sat. night. I’m pretty sure I accidentally left my back door unlocked, no signs of forced entry.
The thief stole credit cards from a purse and jewelry that was on the coffee table. Proceeded to make several purchases at McDonalds, ABC stores and gas stations. They didn’t steal laptops, ipods, or digital cameras, which were easily accessible.
Police have been notified. Worst part is knowing we were upstairs sleeping while someone was creeping through the house. Obviously could have been much worse.
TAGGED: crime
I’m dreading the end of the school year/summer, which is when it seems like the B&E incidence exponentially increases.
This happened to us on 24th and E. Marshall on Saturday around 1am.
@1 and 2 – if doors were unlocked it’s not technically B&E.
The police should be able to pull security footage from when the cards were used right?
This is good information to share with CH residents, for awareness’ sake. No need for sensationalism in the mainstream media – go troll for neighborhood speeding in Twin Hickory, Kelly Marie.
@Alex
You are wrong. Even pushing a door open is B&E.
Breaking and entering definition:
“Entering a residence or other enclosed property through the slightest amount of force (even pushing open a door), without authorization. If there is intent to commit a crime, this is burglary. If there is no such intent, the breaking and entering alone is probably at least illegal trespass, which is a misdemeanor crime”
So it’s okay to enter your house if you leave the door unlocked and steal credit cards and jewelry?
@GFY
Since when did all Church Hill residents, people from the bottom and surrounding areas, all resort to the CHPN for news/info in burglaries and crimes? I think it is essential to run these stories for the masses to know. I’m pretty sure that these people who are “entering” houses and taking things when they are not supposed to are the same people that would break a window and perform other crimes. Also, it might save THEIR lives if they break into someone’s house with a gun.
Kelly@NBC
I’m sure the majority of Church Hill residents would appreciate a story reporting these crimes. Yes we do have plenty of ignorant people like GFY area the neighborhood, I apologize.
@7 – I didn’t say it was legal, just that I thought the charge was burglary in this case. Where’s your definition from?
@Alex
How about you try and find a definition supporting your claim. Every definition clearly states what B&E is. It is illegal entry- you do not have to “break” something to be “breaking and entering”.
Burglary is when the credit cards were taken.
You can be charged for B&E without a burglary charge.
“Breaking” is defined in Virginia case law from 1922, not by a statute. “Actual breaking involves the application of some force, slight though it may be, whereby the entrance is effected. Merely pushing open a door, turning the key, lifting the latch, or resort to other slight physical force is sufficient to constitute this element of the crime.” Davis v. Commonwealth, 132 Va. 521, 523, 110 S.E. 356, 357 (1922). I don’t think these old cases are available on line, but if you Google a quote from this, you’ll find plenty of newer cases still relying on the 1922 court decision.
Thanks Lynn. I had heard otherwise in the past but it appears that this was misinformation. Perhaps this was based on it likely being a lot harder to prove in the absence of actually forcing (in a more traditional sense) since the perp could claim the door was open.
They make locks that lock themselves and with a keypad you cannot forget your keys 🙂