the felony of breaking into and entering the house of another at night with intent to steal, extended by statute to cover the breaking into and entering of any of various buildings, by night or day.

noun

break-in , breaking and entering , caper , crime , filching , heist , housebreaking , larceny , owl job , pilferage , prowl , robbery , safecracking , second-story work , sting , theft , thievingnotes:burglary can take place when the victim is not there and is the theft of property without the owner being aware of the crime; in robbery , the victim is present and is confronted , felony , housebreaking. associated word: burglarious